10-16-2018, 07:57 AM
Ruby wanted so badly to say that things were starting to look up after the past few weeks were sorted out, but for as much as everything looked to be heading in the right direction there were still roadblocks that left her quite irritated with the fact the Red Empire still didn't seem like they were getting out of the starting blocks.
Despite one of her plans to try and manipulate Fatal Fortunes into her favor slipping away due to the resistance of her only means of pulling it off, she and Scarlet had still found themselves with plenty of opportunities before them regardless, leaving her to wonder if perhaps he did go through with it after all. That mind game alone made her want to vomit as the cold and calculating crimson-haired machine did her best to separate the tasks she needed to focus on from the mess she had willingly allowed herself to walk back into all just to try and pacify her... friend? Did she fully consider Scarlet a friend at this point? It was honestly hard for even Ruby to know for sure at this point, especially when that mere concept had already cost her so much over the years that she had no qualms about erasing every last trace of her old life from existence by any means necessary.
All she knew right now was that despite Scarlet shocking the world with an upset over Ravyn Taylor to earn a tv title match (which Ruby couldn't help but laugh at, considering she's had her own eye on this woman she's already been compared to so often for some time now), nothing else seemed to fall into place as she wanted. Red Empire's bid for a straight tag title shot was torched by a team that was much better off destroying each other than simply bowing out like they should have, and when Ruby found herself falling short in an actual tv title bid even knowing she could very well face Scarlet as a result in the aftermath, she had found her mind slipping just enough due to the dangerous game she'd been playing that Josh Hudson had managed to take advantage. While she hadn't fully allowed him the pleasure of gloating about it by making sure he hadn't forgotten about her while trying to retain against Scarlet the previous week, the interference of an idiot lost to his pointless vendetta had soured her hopes that Scarlet would get what she wanted while simultaneously proving that her head was focused just enough on where it needed to be so she wouldn't have to worry about their mission being compromised.
Under Attack was fast approaching, and Ruby found herself right back at square one with more frustrations than ever before.
Amarant: This wasn't why I agreed to come back into this world...
For the moment, there was no telling exactly what her future held, and that slight lack of control bothered her more than she was trying to let on in public. While it was easy to assume she would join Scarlet in one of the few remaining open spots inside this ruthless chamber structure revolving around the tag title picture, it wasn't as cut and dry once you factored in Scarlet's actions in regards to her “hunt” not only opening the door for an unnecessary enemy as her jealously started reaching an all time and uncontrollable high, but the fact that sooner or later she knew Aaron Blackbourne was going to stop being as polite as he was trying to be about getting out of her partner's crosshairs if it was going to keep his own career from making any progress. After all, everyone else involved in this sport, no matter how much they might claim otherwise, lived for that moment of being able to climb the ladder and claim success, and sooner or later Aaron would turn his back on all his pathetic morals the more he kept getting left off pay-per-view cards that denied him his usual outlet for his creative endeavors and having his matches canceled just because SCW officials themselves were trying to curb Scarlet's actions towards him.
Amarant: I personally think he was a fool believing I would willingly help him, but as long as he allows his naïveté to cloud his judgment, I'll play along until the time is right.
It was an amusing thought as Ruby opted to pass the time in the little study she had persuaded Scarlet to add to her castle all just for her. She had been laying back and trying to read, but reading began to give way to assorted thoughts and she figured she had the time to spare towards pondering them. The very night the tv title suddenly began to find itself directly in front of the Red Empire, Aaron had actually approached her about trying to help control her partner. While Ruby understood the logic he was trying to present, especially since she'd made it no secret by this point she just wanted Scarlet's focus back on their original goal, she already had the situation under control by that point and the entire meeting was truly a waste of time, though it did open a few doors she could abuse down the line. After all, he honestly believed she would be willing to assist him as opposed to the person that actually meant something to her, ignoring the fact that as long as everything played into her hands Ruby was the kind of person that would eventually get everything she was after, regardless of how many would become victims as a result.
At least Aaron held some value to her outside of dealing with him for the sake of Scarlet. The same could not be said of Konrad Raab, the man she'd been stuck facing on the last Breakdown before Under Attack would become the prime focus for everybody. He'd been in SCW for quite some time now and even longer in the business as a whole, and as far as she was concerned he'd accomplished nothing that made him worth her time. While the same could be said of the fact the Red Empire was lacking in accolades to back up their threats and desires, Ruby knew how simply the game could be explained to anybody with some semblance of an IQ: you overcome people of value, and more doors open to take advantage of. It wasn't rocket science, but it meant people like Konrad were more of a warm-up than anything else. While it definitely seemed like Ruby could use the shift in momentum to try and get something going again in favor of her tandem, she knew it was ultimately a useless way of trying to keep her content until she could utilize something of actual value.
Grey: Rubes! You've got mail!
Ruby couldn't help but raise an annoyed but intrigued eyebrow as she marked her place in her book and set it aside at the call from beyond her door. Yes, just because Scarlet's castle certainly seemed out of the ordinary didn't mean it was completely cut off from the rest of the world. You could still send something using the postal service among other things as long as you knew the address. How else do you think Scarlet would have more than a million things to try and keep herself satisfied or looking as good as she did? Still, virtually nobody who actually knew or may have cared for Ruby once upon a time were aware she called this place her residence as well, especially when most of them had all ties severed a long time ago for reasons that are still not of any concern to you. This was why when she found herself heading towards the front door of the house to meet Scarlet for the mail call, she couldn't help but allow herself to play into the old saying of 'curiosity killed the cat' just to get to the bottom of this little mystery. She did have to stop herself for a moment, however, when she saw Scarlet flipping through the mail and trying to sort it just because aside from a red thong the only attire on her was one of those replica tv title belts you could buy from any of SCW's merch stands, snapped around her torso in a way to mimic the purpose of a bra. Only being made of plastic and foam, however, meant it was certainly struggling to do a job it wasn't intended for, but it was more the very idea of what she was seeing that gave Ruby a reason to try and pick her partner's brain for a moment.
Amarant: Before I question who would know to send mail to me out here, I have to question the choice of attire Scarlet. As much as I know it's not outside the realm of possibility with you-
Grey: Oh, this old thing? I stopped by one of those merch booths before Breakdown ended and 'persuaded' the guy working it to let me buy one with a 100% discount. I'd have preferred the real thing since it would've held up better and definitely be getting a certain someone's attention, but...
Ruby could feel the irritation practically radiating off of her partner as she didn't bother finishing a story with its outcome already common knowledge as she passed along the one letter addressed to her. There was a small twinge of sadness in Ruby's icy heart at the fact that Scarlet was resorting to this to try and make up for a failure that actually was not her fault this time, mostly because she was very much aware of the problems it could cause in trying to juggle and weaponize her current obsession into something that would benefit their plans. If Justin Davis hasn't been so hellbent on his little mission that he couldn't simply wait like he did the week before, none of this would be happening, but Ruby had no plans on letting this so-called 'veteran' escape this war zone unscathed after a mistake like that, even if his little list was declared finished. She would find a way...
Amarant: No return address? Why am I not surprised...
As Ruby's attention shifted back to her mysterious letter, that was the first thing she noticed. Someone knowing she was here and not wanting to be found in return had several red flags attached to it, but as long as there was no immediate risk Ruby would play along to see where this was going. Sitting herself on the couch next to where Scarlet had relocated in her own attempt to distract herself with the contents of a few packages she had ordered to no doubt help in her own little mission right now, she carefully tore open the envelope and pulled out a letter, and despite it being a full-sized piece of paper not much of it had been used for the script that adorned it that read the following:
If it helps to put your mind at ease, you can handle all the details of our little date. After all, I held up my end of the deal, just as I always do. Sincerely, Ivan
Of course it was Ivan... who else would have the sickening obsession and resources required to know more than he needed to about where she was staying and go about handling their business in a way that would attempt to draw in more people than were necessary. To that end, there was no sign of his words being true, as the envelope only contained this one letter and nothing else. How was she supposed to use him to handle sorting out Scarlet's current obsession in a manner that would be mutually beneficial to her as well if he told her he followed through on his word but gave her nothing? She moved to tear the letter to shreds in her annoyance, but Scarlet had unfortunately peaked over and read the rather short contents before moving to grab her partner's wrist before she 'did something rash.'
Grey: Looks like I'm not the only one who's been catching some attention.
Amarant: Scarlet, can you please just let me destroy this thing? I'm not interested.
Grey: Come on Ruby... I know I'm the dictionary definition of 'sexual goddess' among other things, but you really should branch out more and find something a little more steady, especially since you often take issue with my ways.
Ruby could only sigh... this was why she was afraid of Scarlet seeing this before it could be destroyed. She wasn't in the mood for a debate over why she couldn't be as 'sexually open' as the other redhead at least in terms of pursuing anybody else, especially when it came to this man in particular. Ivan's mind games had already done enough damage when they left her with just enough doubt that it threw off her focus over the course of the fatal fortunes event, and she was not about to let things go any farther with a man she was already regretting turning to again. She managed to tear herself away from Scarlet, but before she could resume her task of trying to destroy the offending letter, her partner had managed to pluck it from her fingers with only a small tear in one of the corners and stuffed it into her cleavage for 'safe keeping' to Ruby's growing irritation.
Amarant: Scarlet, I'm not in the mood to 'go fishing' as I know you'd love to say right now. Cease these childish antics and just let me-
Grey: Childish? I'm sorry, but coming from the one who wants to turn this letter into confetti just because you're 'not interested' you can come up with something better than that Ruby.
Amarant: It's none of your business Scarlet, now-
Grey: Nothing about you is ever my business, and I'm getting tired of it! I'm not blind Ruby, I know there's more to this than you're letting on. It's practically your M.O. now, and if it's because this might be someone you actually have a history with and that's better off forgotten, you can at least tell me that without sharing all the details.
Before either of them really knew what was happening, Ruby had made a desperate lunge towards trying to retrieve the letter and only succeeded in capitalizing on the strain to literally tear the damaged toy belt away. The pieces were left to drop to the floor as Ruby snapped out of her sudden fury while Scarlet ignored the fact that her 'replica title belt bra' that was trying to make up for not having the real deal was now garbage, instead just staring wide-eyed in response to Ruby's action. Very rarely had Ruby been that emotional in Scarlet's presence, but the curvier of the two women almost seemed to understand in that moment she might've hit the nail on the head, and Ruby trying to flee made it clear this was too much of a revelation than she wanted. Before she could get too far, Scarlet grabbed her wrist again, and before she was met with a look of any kind, she's used her free hand to retrieve the letter from it's soft safe and returned it to its rightful owner.
Grey: You don't have to say anything... I think I got all I needed to know from that alone and I won't push the issue. But Ruby... for as much as I can be 'distracted' you know you can always talk with me if you need to. You know I'm a lot more psychologically-gifted than anyone ever wants to believe and I have no reason to go spreading things about you that are best kept under wraps. You've let me know you well enough, and as much as I would love to know more I'm not overstepping any boundaries. I don't know who this guy is or what he's talking about, but if he's someone you're not comfortable dealing with, I can make him pay if you just say the word.
Ruby could only nod in response as she silently stared at her partner while Scarlet put on the best comforting look she could muster, especially in her current 'attire.' Truth be told, as much as she knew full well Scarlet was far more intelligent than she ever tended to let on to the public eye, even she doubted Scarlet's ability to outplay Ivan if necessary when Ruby herself struggled on that front. But she'd already essentially let it slip that Ivan was someone that meany bad hings to her to put it mildly, and the least she could do was let Scarlet be content with that knowledge. As she was released and let her partner to try and resume her mail-sorting, Ruby knew deep down that whatever mess she was getting herself into would also be one she would have to get out of on her own. It's not that she didn't trust Scarlet; it was simply safer if the bombshell was kept out of harm's way. This was her problem, and she could deal with it on her own, just as she could easily deal with Raab on her own come Breakdown and-
Amarant: What's this?
Ruby snapped out of her internal ranting in an attempt to reassure herself when she got a good look at the small tear that had been made in the brief struggle between the two women. It would've been easy to simply keep going from where it was, but that was assuming the paper had a simple tear in it. But she couldn't see straight through, almost as though only the front side of the paper was torn by not the back, a physically impossible feat. Ruby slowly worked at the tear in order to give herself a good enough grip so as not to cause any unnecessary damage before she found herself peeling apart two different pages, the second one carefully pressed into the actual letter in order to hide something.
Amarant: That crafty son of a bitch...
While the surprise second paper was truly blank, the more pressing matter was the object between the pages. Carefully tucked away with little reason to suspect they were even there were a series of small photos printed onto a rare paper that was incredibly thin, making this task even more possible. Said photos looked like they had been taken from security cameras around some of the arenas from the past few weeks, and lo and behold they gave Ruby exactly what she'd been asking for. Was she pleased that she ultimately got what she wanted and could proceed forward? Was she bothered by the fact that now she had her end of a deal to complete and knew she couldn't ignore it hoping it would just go away?
All she knew for sure was that this information was best kept secret for the time being. Scarlet would know in due time... first thing's first, an 'iceman' needed to melt and a chamber needed to be conquered.
***
Amarant: The more you try to play nice in this world, the more you find it all crumbling around you. This is not a place for the pure of heart, but the haven for those who will stop at nothing to eradicate all trace of light from a world where darkness reigns supreme.
Before we even have a picture, we can hear Ruby's words, punctuated by the roar of thunder. Once we can finally see, we find the intelligent terror seated in a bedroom setting, though being the only person present we cannot tell if this room solely belongs to her or is perhaps one that is shared. The décor at least makes it clear we're in somewhat familiar territory within the confines of the Red Empire's castle, and the window behind the leather-clad menace makes it clear that a storm has rolled in. No matter how nasty it seems to get, however, the rain and wind only seem to add to whatever Ruby has in mind to discuss with us.
Amarant: I come to you all today as a woman annoyed. Immediately as I say those words, your minds will no doubt wander towards the past few weeks, and while such failures could be a probable cause they are more of an inconvenience at best. A man more obsessed with respect than being the terror he claims he once was is still a champion all because of the incompetence of another too lost in his senseless vendetta, a tandem that despises one another is getting an opportunity that should rightfully be ours because they could not set their egos aside long enough to put a scenario they did not desire over championship greed, and the Red Empire is still standing here empty-handed... for the time being. You would be misinformed, however, if you draw your conclusions to those events as the reason why I am in the state of mind I am in today.
Amarant: My annoyance comes from a subsection of the SCW roster that simply does not understand the world around them. These are the people who will go out of their way to show you endless amounts of adulation and respect even when you do not deserve it and speak of 'fair play' as though it were the single most important rule to live one's life by. These are the men and women who lack the heart and soul needed to truly survive, because they will not demand the opportunities they deserve or go out of their way to forcefully obtain them. Instead, they choose to be polite as they slip further and further down the ranks, watching as their opportunities pass them by with no one to blame but themselves... and yet, they are too blinded by their self-imposed honor to ever place the blame where it rightfully belongs. It is any wonder how they find proper ground to stand on when they proclaim hypocrisy to those who will do what they cannot all just to put themselves higher on the proverbial food chain of humanity, as their egos are no different just because they have something that most of us have long since cast off as a useless ideology.
Ruby briefly turns her attention to the window, taking a moment to watch as the horrendous conditions outside have no concerns about the debris they are beginning to throw around, the wind growing more and more violent as thunder and lightning overwhelm the senses of any onlookers. It's almost a perfect representation of Ruby's words: a dark and bleak scene where only destruction matters and cannot be stopped, the kind of scene that those she is talking about would be ripped to shreds by physically and mentally given the right circumstances.
Amarant: Now, I could easily be referring to a certain artist in particular, though I will restrain myself for the time being out of respect for my enamored partner. Aaron Blackbourne is a man who tells the world time and time again that he is a taken man, and yet he fails to produce any evidence to back up these statements. Whenever he is forced to deal with my partner in question, this is his excuse while he continues to try and be nice about letting her down, even turning to me for help all because of my own desire to get Scarlet back on track towards the goal she herself created for our little tandem in the first place. And yet, by not being up front with her if his lack of interest is true, he has not only seen his own place in this company decline while he is being 'protected' by SCW officials, but even allowed those he claims to hold respect for to be hurt along the way. I don't think I truly need to elaborate any further on what he must do, but I suppose I can allow him the chance to do it 'his way' knowing the end result isn't going to be as he hopes. After all... I did warn him about how ruthless Scarlet could be in getting what she wants.
She knew she didn't need to say anything to the man that had become the object of her partner's affections, even if he fell perfectly into the point she was making. Consider it her way of 'stirring the pot' just to see what might happen. It's at this point she reaches out of the shot and retrieves what looks like a framed photo of the creative soul in action, though knowing there are probably several others like it, all Ruby can do is scoff at how blinded his judgment has been as she opens the window just enough to allow the picture to become just another casualty of the storm beyond. Once she's satisfied and has the window closed again, she turns her full attention back to us.
Amarant: One thing I can at least say about Aaron, though, is that he still has a chance to turn it all around, something that Scarlet could very much help him with whether he wants to accept this little revelation or not. One man who is beyond saving, however, is one Konrad Raab. Herr Raab has been in this company, and indeed wrestling as a whole, for what feels like an eternity now. I'm sure he's had his successes elsewhere, though my lack of interest in acknowledging them shows you how little I care if it is of no real concern to me. Within the confines of SCW he has achieved nothing, and yet he continues to hold his head high and try to do things the 'right way' even when he has been abandoned by his so-called friends simply because he did not follow their example and give in when they realized there was no success to be found here for them. Worse, he continues to linger around questioning the affairs of others without doing anything about it, and finds himself wondering why he is in certain scenarios as a result. I cannot even place the label of 'hero' on him because for as much as that title lacks any true value as far as I'm concerned, at least those who proudly wear it will 'fight for what's right' as opposed to being a passerby commenting on it one way or the other.
Amarant: Let me ask you a question in terms you might understand Konrad: is what I'm saying bothering you? Is it making you angry that the truth is in the hands of someone who knows how to use and abuse it? I could always keep delving deeper, especially to amuse myself by seeing if I can draw out this 'Black Ice' persona you tout all in the name of making me pay for simply doing my job, but the reality of this situation is that you are irrelevant to the bigger picture as far as I'm concerned. Take that as a sleight if you wish, but it is a fact that has nothing to do with you inability to be of any threat to me even if you did have a purpose in standing across the ring from me this week. You are simply nothing more than a way to give me a victory in order to put the Red Empire back on track, and no amount of hatred towards the honesty I have laid out or objection towards my role, or lack thereof thus far, in my partner's antics towards someone you will no doubt profess your undying respect and admiration towards will change the outcome of this Breakdown encounter.
Amarant: By all means though... if you believe you are able to prove me wrong, then do whatever you believe will back up such claims. Bring your anger that you hate to unleash upon the world out of concern for others when they have no such concerns towards you and will gladly return you to your homeland to be laid to rest for failing to understand that you simply do not have a place in this company, this business as a whole or even this sad current stage of human evolution. Bring your 'A game' in hopes that you can silence me merely by outwrestling a chessmaster who does not need your level of experience or passion for the sport to overcome you. If anything, the only thing I truly desire from you is enough of a challenge to make this worth the five minutes, at best, I'm willing to allot you towards salvaging what little dignity you have left, because the sooner I dismiss this class on why your precious honor and hesitation will never allow you to make it as far as you desire, the sooner I can shift gears towards something that actually have meaning to me, especially as Under Attack draws near and I have enough of a task trying to remind my partner that a certain match that still has openings in it is exactly what we need to push forward towards what she truly desires out of this entire endeavor. But please Herr Raab... continue to concern yourself with someone else's petty thievery that you ultimately cannot do anything about, because at least then you're actually finding ways to slither onto the card unlike a certain someone else with far more potential that's being wasted.
Ruby can only shake her head in disappointment as she allows the roar of thunder and the flash of lightning to take us out of this scene. The level of care she has towards this match is clearly almost nonexistent, but when the end result is a foregone conclusion and provides her with no true satisfaction, she can afford to make this clear to an individual she knows cannot do anything to prove otherwise. If nothing else, maybe what she does can serve as a warning to the aforementioned artist that, as a favor to Scarlet and even him despite not deserving it, that sticking to the same path as someone like Konrad Raab is only going to do more harm than good in the long run unless he learns to actually grow a set and take some initiative for once in his life.
Despite one of her plans to try and manipulate Fatal Fortunes into her favor slipping away due to the resistance of her only means of pulling it off, she and Scarlet had still found themselves with plenty of opportunities before them regardless, leaving her to wonder if perhaps he did go through with it after all. That mind game alone made her want to vomit as the cold and calculating crimson-haired machine did her best to separate the tasks she needed to focus on from the mess she had willingly allowed herself to walk back into all just to try and pacify her... friend? Did she fully consider Scarlet a friend at this point? It was honestly hard for even Ruby to know for sure at this point, especially when that mere concept had already cost her so much over the years that she had no qualms about erasing every last trace of her old life from existence by any means necessary.
All she knew right now was that despite Scarlet shocking the world with an upset over Ravyn Taylor to earn a tv title match (which Ruby couldn't help but laugh at, considering she's had her own eye on this woman she's already been compared to so often for some time now), nothing else seemed to fall into place as she wanted. Red Empire's bid for a straight tag title shot was torched by a team that was much better off destroying each other than simply bowing out like they should have, and when Ruby found herself falling short in an actual tv title bid even knowing she could very well face Scarlet as a result in the aftermath, she had found her mind slipping just enough due to the dangerous game she'd been playing that Josh Hudson had managed to take advantage. While she hadn't fully allowed him the pleasure of gloating about it by making sure he hadn't forgotten about her while trying to retain against Scarlet the previous week, the interference of an idiot lost to his pointless vendetta had soured her hopes that Scarlet would get what she wanted while simultaneously proving that her head was focused just enough on where it needed to be so she wouldn't have to worry about their mission being compromised.
Under Attack was fast approaching, and Ruby found herself right back at square one with more frustrations than ever before.
Amarant: This wasn't why I agreed to come back into this world...
For the moment, there was no telling exactly what her future held, and that slight lack of control bothered her more than she was trying to let on in public. While it was easy to assume she would join Scarlet in one of the few remaining open spots inside this ruthless chamber structure revolving around the tag title picture, it wasn't as cut and dry once you factored in Scarlet's actions in regards to her “hunt” not only opening the door for an unnecessary enemy as her jealously started reaching an all time and uncontrollable high, but the fact that sooner or later she knew Aaron Blackbourne was going to stop being as polite as he was trying to be about getting out of her partner's crosshairs if it was going to keep his own career from making any progress. After all, everyone else involved in this sport, no matter how much they might claim otherwise, lived for that moment of being able to climb the ladder and claim success, and sooner or later Aaron would turn his back on all his pathetic morals the more he kept getting left off pay-per-view cards that denied him his usual outlet for his creative endeavors and having his matches canceled just because SCW officials themselves were trying to curb Scarlet's actions towards him.
Amarant: I personally think he was a fool believing I would willingly help him, but as long as he allows his naïveté to cloud his judgment, I'll play along until the time is right.
It was an amusing thought as Ruby opted to pass the time in the little study she had persuaded Scarlet to add to her castle all just for her. She had been laying back and trying to read, but reading began to give way to assorted thoughts and she figured she had the time to spare towards pondering them. The very night the tv title suddenly began to find itself directly in front of the Red Empire, Aaron had actually approached her about trying to help control her partner. While Ruby understood the logic he was trying to present, especially since she'd made it no secret by this point she just wanted Scarlet's focus back on their original goal, she already had the situation under control by that point and the entire meeting was truly a waste of time, though it did open a few doors she could abuse down the line. After all, he honestly believed she would be willing to assist him as opposed to the person that actually meant something to her, ignoring the fact that as long as everything played into her hands Ruby was the kind of person that would eventually get everything she was after, regardless of how many would become victims as a result.
At least Aaron held some value to her outside of dealing with him for the sake of Scarlet. The same could not be said of Konrad Raab, the man she'd been stuck facing on the last Breakdown before Under Attack would become the prime focus for everybody. He'd been in SCW for quite some time now and even longer in the business as a whole, and as far as she was concerned he'd accomplished nothing that made him worth her time. While the same could be said of the fact the Red Empire was lacking in accolades to back up their threats and desires, Ruby knew how simply the game could be explained to anybody with some semblance of an IQ: you overcome people of value, and more doors open to take advantage of. It wasn't rocket science, but it meant people like Konrad were more of a warm-up than anything else. While it definitely seemed like Ruby could use the shift in momentum to try and get something going again in favor of her tandem, she knew it was ultimately a useless way of trying to keep her content until she could utilize something of actual value.
Grey: Rubes! You've got mail!
Ruby couldn't help but raise an annoyed but intrigued eyebrow as she marked her place in her book and set it aside at the call from beyond her door. Yes, just because Scarlet's castle certainly seemed out of the ordinary didn't mean it was completely cut off from the rest of the world. You could still send something using the postal service among other things as long as you knew the address. How else do you think Scarlet would have more than a million things to try and keep herself satisfied or looking as good as she did? Still, virtually nobody who actually knew or may have cared for Ruby once upon a time were aware she called this place her residence as well, especially when most of them had all ties severed a long time ago for reasons that are still not of any concern to you. This was why when she found herself heading towards the front door of the house to meet Scarlet for the mail call, she couldn't help but allow herself to play into the old saying of 'curiosity killed the cat' just to get to the bottom of this little mystery. She did have to stop herself for a moment, however, when she saw Scarlet flipping through the mail and trying to sort it just because aside from a red thong the only attire on her was one of those replica tv title belts you could buy from any of SCW's merch stands, snapped around her torso in a way to mimic the purpose of a bra. Only being made of plastic and foam, however, meant it was certainly struggling to do a job it wasn't intended for, but it was more the very idea of what she was seeing that gave Ruby a reason to try and pick her partner's brain for a moment.
Amarant: Before I question who would know to send mail to me out here, I have to question the choice of attire Scarlet. As much as I know it's not outside the realm of possibility with you-
Grey: Oh, this old thing? I stopped by one of those merch booths before Breakdown ended and 'persuaded' the guy working it to let me buy one with a 100% discount. I'd have preferred the real thing since it would've held up better and definitely be getting a certain someone's attention, but...
Ruby could feel the irritation practically radiating off of her partner as she didn't bother finishing a story with its outcome already common knowledge as she passed along the one letter addressed to her. There was a small twinge of sadness in Ruby's icy heart at the fact that Scarlet was resorting to this to try and make up for a failure that actually was not her fault this time, mostly because she was very much aware of the problems it could cause in trying to juggle and weaponize her current obsession into something that would benefit their plans. If Justin Davis hasn't been so hellbent on his little mission that he couldn't simply wait like he did the week before, none of this would be happening, but Ruby had no plans on letting this so-called 'veteran' escape this war zone unscathed after a mistake like that, even if his little list was declared finished. She would find a way...
Amarant: No return address? Why am I not surprised...
As Ruby's attention shifted back to her mysterious letter, that was the first thing she noticed. Someone knowing she was here and not wanting to be found in return had several red flags attached to it, but as long as there was no immediate risk Ruby would play along to see where this was going. Sitting herself on the couch next to where Scarlet had relocated in her own attempt to distract herself with the contents of a few packages she had ordered to no doubt help in her own little mission right now, she carefully tore open the envelope and pulled out a letter, and despite it being a full-sized piece of paper not much of it had been used for the script that adorned it that read the following:
If it helps to put your mind at ease, you can handle all the details of our little date. After all, I held up my end of the deal, just as I always do. Sincerely, Ivan
Of course it was Ivan... who else would have the sickening obsession and resources required to know more than he needed to about where she was staying and go about handling their business in a way that would attempt to draw in more people than were necessary. To that end, there was no sign of his words being true, as the envelope only contained this one letter and nothing else. How was she supposed to use him to handle sorting out Scarlet's current obsession in a manner that would be mutually beneficial to her as well if he told her he followed through on his word but gave her nothing? She moved to tear the letter to shreds in her annoyance, but Scarlet had unfortunately peaked over and read the rather short contents before moving to grab her partner's wrist before she 'did something rash.'
Grey: Looks like I'm not the only one who's been catching some attention.
Amarant: Scarlet, can you please just let me destroy this thing? I'm not interested.
Grey: Come on Ruby... I know I'm the dictionary definition of 'sexual goddess' among other things, but you really should branch out more and find something a little more steady, especially since you often take issue with my ways.
Ruby could only sigh... this was why she was afraid of Scarlet seeing this before it could be destroyed. She wasn't in the mood for a debate over why she couldn't be as 'sexually open' as the other redhead at least in terms of pursuing anybody else, especially when it came to this man in particular. Ivan's mind games had already done enough damage when they left her with just enough doubt that it threw off her focus over the course of the fatal fortunes event, and she was not about to let things go any farther with a man she was already regretting turning to again. She managed to tear herself away from Scarlet, but before she could resume her task of trying to destroy the offending letter, her partner had managed to pluck it from her fingers with only a small tear in one of the corners and stuffed it into her cleavage for 'safe keeping' to Ruby's growing irritation.
Amarant: Scarlet, I'm not in the mood to 'go fishing' as I know you'd love to say right now. Cease these childish antics and just let me-
Grey: Childish? I'm sorry, but coming from the one who wants to turn this letter into confetti just because you're 'not interested' you can come up with something better than that Ruby.
Amarant: It's none of your business Scarlet, now-
Grey: Nothing about you is ever my business, and I'm getting tired of it! I'm not blind Ruby, I know there's more to this than you're letting on. It's practically your M.O. now, and if it's because this might be someone you actually have a history with and that's better off forgotten, you can at least tell me that without sharing all the details.
Before either of them really knew what was happening, Ruby had made a desperate lunge towards trying to retrieve the letter and only succeeded in capitalizing on the strain to literally tear the damaged toy belt away. The pieces were left to drop to the floor as Ruby snapped out of her sudden fury while Scarlet ignored the fact that her 'replica title belt bra' that was trying to make up for not having the real deal was now garbage, instead just staring wide-eyed in response to Ruby's action. Very rarely had Ruby been that emotional in Scarlet's presence, but the curvier of the two women almost seemed to understand in that moment she might've hit the nail on the head, and Ruby trying to flee made it clear this was too much of a revelation than she wanted. Before she could get too far, Scarlet grabbed her wrist again, and before she was met with a look of any kind, she's used her free hand to retrieve the letter from it's soft safe and returned it to its rightful owner.
Grey: You don't have to say anything... I think I got all I needed to know from that alone and I won't push the issue. But Ruby... for as much as I can be 'distracted' you know you can always talk with me if you need to. You know I'm a lot more psychologically-gifted than anyone ever wants to believe and I have no reason to go spreading things about you that are best kept under wraps. You've let me know you well enough, and as much as I would love to know more I'm not overstepping any boundaries. I don't know who this guy is or what he's talking about, but if he's someone you're not comfortable dealing with, I can make him pay if you just say the word.
Ruby could only nod in response as she silently stared at her partner while Scarlet put on the best comforting look she could muster, especially in her current 'attire.' Truth be told, as much as she knew full well Scarlet was far more intelligent than she ever tended to let on to the public eye, even she doubted Scarlet's ability to outplay Ivan if necessary when Ruby herself struggled on that front. But she'd already essentially let it slip that Ivan was someone that meany bad hings to her to put it mildly, and the least she could do was let Scarlet be content with that knowledge. As she was released and let her partner to try and resume her mail-sorting, Ruby knew deep down that whatever mess she was getting herself into would also be one she would have to get out of on her own. It's not that she didn't trust Scarlet; it was simply safer if the bombshell was kept out of harm's way. This was her problem, and she could deal with it on her own, just as she could easily deal with Raab on her own come Breakdown and-
Amarant: What's this?
Ruby snapped out of her internal ranting in an attempt to reassure herself when she got a good look at the small tear that had been made in the brief struggle between the two women. It would've been easy to simply keep going from where it was, but that was assuming the paper had a simple tear in it. But she couldn't see straight through, almost as though only the front side of the paper was torn by not the back, a physically impossible feat. Ruby slowly worked at the tear in order to give herself a good enough grip so as not to cause any unnecessary damage before she found herself peeling apart two different pages, the second one carefully pressed into the actual letter in order to hide something.
Amarant: That crafty son of a bitch...
While the surprise second paper was truly blank, the more pressing matter was the object between the pages. Carefully tucked away with little reason to suspect they were even there were a series of small photos printed onto a rare paper that was incredibly thin, making this task even more possible. Said photos looked like they had been taken from security cameras around some of the arenas from the past few weeks, and lo and behold they gave Ruby exactly what she'd been asking for. Was she pleased that she ultimately got what she wanted and could proceed forward? Was she bothered by the fact that now she had her end of a deal to complete and knew she couldn't ignore it hoping it would just go away?
All she knew for sure was that this information was best kept secret for the time being. Scarlet would know in due time... first thing's first, an 'iceman' needed to melt and a chamber needed to be conquered.
***
Amarant: The more you try to play nice in this world, the more you find it all crumbling around you. This is not a place for the pure of heart, but the haven for those who will stop at nothing to eradicate all trace of light from a world where darkness reigns supreme.
Before we even have a picture, we can hear Ruby's words, punctuated by the roar of thunder. Once we can finally see, we find the intelligent terror seated in a bedroom setting, though being the only person present we cannot tell if this room solely belongs to her or is perhaps one that is shared. The décor at least makes it clear we're in somewhat familiar territory within the confines of the Red Empire's castle, and the window behind the leather-clad menace makes it clear that a storm has rolled in. No matter how nasty it seems to get, however, the rain and wind only seem to add to whatever Ruby has in mind to discuss with us.
Amarant: I come to you all today as a woman annoyed. Immediately as I say those words, your minds will no doubt wander towards the past few weeks, and while such failures could be a probable cause they are more of an inconvenience at best. A man more obsessed with respect than being the terror he claims he once was is still a champion all because of the incompetence of another too lost in his senseless vendetta, a tandem that despises one another is getting an opportunity that should rightfully be ours because they could not set their egos aside long enough to put a scenario they did not desire over championship greed, and the Red Empire is still standing here empty-handed... for the time being. You would be misinformed, however, if you draw your conclusions to those events as the reason why I am in the state of mind I am in today.
Amarant: My annoyance comes from a subsection of the SCW roster that simply does not understand the world around them. These are the people who will go out of their way to show you endless amounts of adulation and respect even when you do not deserve it and speak of 'fair play' as though it were the single most important rule to live one's life by. These are the men and women who lack the heart and soul needed to truly survive, because they will not demand the opportunities they deserve or go out of their way to forcefully obtain them. Instead, they choose to be polite as they slip further and further down the ranks, watching as their opportunities pass them by with no one to blame but themselves... and yet, they are too blinded by their self-imposed honor to ever place the blame where it rightfully belongs. It is any wonder how they find proper ground to stand on when they proclaim hypocrisy to those who will do what they cannot all just to put themselves higher on the proverbial food chain of humanity, as their egos are no different just because they have something that most of us have long since cast off as a useless ideology.
Ruby briefly turns her attention to the window, taking a moment to watch as the horrendous conditions outside have no concerns about the debris they are beginning to throw around, the wind growing more and more violent as thunder and lightning overwhelm the senses of any onlookers. It's almost a perfect representation of Ruby's words: a dark and bleak scene where only destruction matters and cannot be stopped, the kind of scene that those she is talking about would be ripped to shreds by physically and mentally given the right circumstances.
Amarant: Now, I could easily be referring to a certain artist in particular, though I will restrain myself for the time being out of respect for my enamored partner. Aaron Blackbourne is a man who tells the world time and time again that he is a taken man, and yet he fails to produce any evidence to back up these statements. Whenever he is forced to deal with my partner in question, this is his excuse while he continues to try and be nice about letting her down, even turning to me for help all because of my own desire to get Scarlet back on track towards the goal she herself created for our little tandem in the first place. And yet, by not being up front with her if his lack of interest is true, he has not only seen his own place in this company decline while he is being 'protected' by SCW officials, but even allowed those he claims to hold respect for to be hurt along the way. I don't think I truly need to elaborate any further on what he must do, but I suppose I can allow him the chance to do it 'his way' knowing the end result isn't going to be as he hopes. After all... I did warn him about how ruthless Scarlet could be in getting what she wants.
She knew she didn't need to say anything to the man that had become the object of her partner's affections, even if he fell perfectly into the point she was making. Consider it her way of 'stirring the pot' just to see what might happen. It's at this point she reaches out of the shot and retrieves what looks like a framed photo of the creative soul in action, though knowing there are probably several others like it, all Ruby can do is scoff at how blinded his judgment has been as she opens the window just enough to allow the picture to become just another casualty of the storm beyond. Once she's satisfied and has the window closed again, she turns her full attention back to us.
Amarant: One thing I can at least say about Aaron, though, is that he still has a chance to turn it all around, something that Scarlet could very much help him with whether he wants to accept this little revelation or not. One man who is beyond saving, however, is one Konrad Raab. Herr Raab has been in this company, and indeed wrestling as a whole, for what feels like an eternity now. I'm sure he's had his successes elsewhere, though my lack of interest in acknowledging them shows you how little I care if it is of no real concern to me. Within the confines of SCW he has achieved nothing, and yet he continues to hold his head high and try to do things the 'right way' even when he has been abandoned by his so-called friends simply because he did not follow their example and give in when they realized there was no success to be found here for them. Worse, he continues to linger around questioning the affairs of others without doing anything about it, and finds himself wondering why he is in certain scenarios as a result. I cannot even place the label of 'hero' on him because for as much as that title lacks any true value as far as I'm concerned, at least those who proudly wear it will 'fight for what's right' as opposed to being a passerby commenting on it one way or the other.
Amarant: Let me ask you a question in terms you might understand Konrad: is what I'm saying bothering you? Is it making you angry that the truth is in the hands of someone who knows how to use and abuse it? I could always keep delving deeper, especially to amuse myself by seeing if I can draw out this 'Black Ice' persona you tout all in the name of making me pay for simply doing my job, but the reality of this situation is that you are irrelevant to the bigger picture as far as I'm concerned. Take that as a sleight if you wish, but it is a fact that has nothing to do with you inability to be of any threat to me even if you did have a purpose in standing across the ring from me this week. You are simply nothing more than a way to give me a victory in order to put the Red Empire back on track, and no amount of hatred towards the honesty I have laid out or objection towards my role, or lack thereof thus far, in my partner's antics towards someone you will no doubt profess your undying respect and admiration towards will change the outcome of this Breakdown encounter.
Amarant: By all means though... if you believe you are able to prove me wrong, then do whatever you believe will back up such claims. Bring your anger that you hate to unleash upon the world out of concern for others when they have no such concerns towards you and will gladly return you to your homeland to be laid to rest for failing to understand that you simply do not have a place in this company, this business as a whole or even this sad current stage of human evolution. Bring your 'A game' in hopes that you can silence me merely by outwrestling a chessmaster who does not need your level of experience or passion for the sport to overcome you. If anything, the only thing I truly desire from you is enough of a challenge to make this worth the five minutes, at best, I'm willing to allot you towards salvaging what little dignity you have left, because the sooner I dismiss this class on why your precious honor and hesitation will never allow you to make it as far as you desire, the sooner I can shift gears towards something that actually have meaning to me, especially as Under Attack draws near and I have enough of a task trying to remind my partner that a certain match that still has openings in it is exactly what we need to push forward towards what she truly desires out of this entire endeavor. But please Herr Raab... continue to concern yourself with someone else's petty thievery that you ultimately cannot do anything about, because at least then you're actually finding ways to slither onto the card unlike a certain someone else with far more potential that's being wasted.
Ruby can only shake her head in disappointment as she allows the roar of thunder and the flash of lightning to take us out of this scene. The level of care she has towards this match is clearly almost nonexistent, but when the end result is a foregone conclusion and provides her with no true satisfaction, she can afford to make this clear to an individual she knows cannot do anything to prove otherwise. If nothing else, maybe what she does can serve as a warning to the aforementioned artist that, as a favor to Scarlet and even him despite not deserving it, that sticking to the same path as someone like Konrad Raab is only going to do more harm than good in the long run unless he learns to actually grow a set and take some initiative for once in his life.