OOC - OK, just to explain, following this rp you will need to read the post I will be posting in the Character Development forum. I've spoken with Olek, and decided not to use that post as part of the match as it wasn't written wholey by myself. That CD post then carries the story forwards to Promo 2 that will come tomorrow
18th June 2022
Los Angeles
For months after Owen had split up with Jenni, visiting Los Angeles had filled him full of dread. So many people wanted his head on a silver platter, so therefore he had found it difficult to visit for even a couple of days. Over time, that dread has lessened, and he had freely gone about his business, but now he felt like he was back at square one. What had happened prior to Taking Hold of the Flame was still raw. The aches in his wrist still troubling him, but not as much as before. Bumping into Regan Street, it filled him full of that self-same fear. She’d made her case more than clear, and although he was back with Jennifer, that elation was tempered by having to lie to Regan, knowing how she would probably react. Daisy had said she was going to talk to Rachel Tatum Lee, to see if she could do anything to at least give him and Jennifer a chance, but he wasn’t going to hold his breath. Regan was just about as stubborn as they came, and Owen was more than aware that Rachel was potentially his last chance. He honestly didn’t know how it would fall if Jennifer had to make a choice… and he didn’t want to think about the outcome.
But back in Los Angeles he was, and although he had spent the short walk from Taylor’s house constantly looking over his shoulder, he had arrived at Shaun’s house without any unwanted interactions. Taylor and Sebastian were doing really well, the little man growing into quite a character, and it still hurt that the reality was he wasn’t his real brother. He’d seen what had happened with Shaun and Orlando though, and he didn’t want that to happen to them. He was going to make sure he was a part of Sebastian’s life and be there for him whenever it was required. Thankfully Taylor seemed to share the same thoughts, and to be fair Owen wasn’t anywhere near as antagonistic towards Orlando as he had been. It had taken a long time, but Owen was now able to see through the fog, and past the anger that had haunted him for nigh on a year. He knew that when it mattered, Orlando had been the only Father he ever had. And a newfound respect had been born from that.
But now he had another issue to deal with… the Maisie issue. There wasn’t a chance in hell he was going to be a part of her plan to break Shaun and Angyalka up. There was no question in Owen’s mind that even trying was a fool’s errand, knowing how solid their marriage was, a rarity in the industry. Maisie had always been a loose cannon, even spending time in a Psychiatric hospital, but of late it seemed like she had developed a mean streak to go with it and would do anything to be with Shaun again. Shaun had learned his lesson the second time she had wronged him and wanted nothing to do with her ever again. But Shaun needed to know what she was planning, and how she had threatened Owen. Until Regan had come round to the idea of Jennifer and Owen being back together, she couldn’t find out about them, especially from someone like Maisie. Perhaps if Shaun would just talk with her, Maisie would understand. But he doubted that very much.
So, when Owen arrives at Shaun’s house, and Shaun is more than happy to see Owen, it is with a sense of guilt that Owen realized that’s he is about to break Shaun’s mood. Dorothea running up to him, followed by Angyalka giving him a hug just served to heighten that guilt still further. But that guilt is then replaced by anger, anger that anyone would want to break up two people that were obviously made for each other. Using that anger allows him to separate himself from his own potential fallout and gets rid of any lingering doubts that this was the right thing to do. Dorothea takes Owen’s hand and leads him into the house, the young girl following her Mother into the kitchen, Shaun following behind.
Shaun: Well, this is a pleasant surprise.
Angyalka: Yes, it is, I hope this isn’t a business visit?
Owen laughs, Shaun now being the General Manager of Supreme Championship Wrestling, a scenario that could have been awkward but thus far hasn’t been.
Owen: No, not at all. But a part of me wishes it was.
Shaun: Well, that sounds more than a little ominous. Do we need a drink?
Owen: It might be a good idea Shaun… I’d sit down as well if I was you.
Recognizing that this is serious, Angyalka takes a hold of Dorothea’s hand.
Angyalka: Come on, how’s about I read you that story you like?
Dorothea is more than happy to do that, Angyalka giving Shaun a kiss on the cheek as she leaves.
Shaun: Beer ok or are we going to need something stronger?
Owen’s face gives him the answer he needs.
Shaun: Two seconds, I’ll get the Jack Daniels.
Shaun walks out the kitchen and moments later comes back with a bottle, before opening the refrigerator and pulling out a bottle of Coca Cola. He pours a couple of measures into whiskey tumblers, Owen nodding his head to the offer of ice, but then declining the mixer. Once they both have a drink, they lift their glasses towards each other and then take a sip, Owen then taking a seat at the breakfast table, Shaun joining him.
Shaun: So, what’s going on Owen?
Owen: I’ll give you two words… Maisie Phillips.
Even as the words are leaving Owen’s lips, Shaun is rolling his eyes.
Shaun: That woman is nothing but trouble, what’s she up to now? More attempts on Gerrard’s life?
Gerrard was Owen’s dog, who Maisie had tried to hang from a tree in Newquay, a fact that now Maisie had admitted to Owen.
Owen: Nah, seems like she has her sights on someone else now.
Shaun: Who?
Owen pauses, looking Shaun dead in the eyes.
Owen: You.
Shaun’s scowling face shows his obvious confusion, Owen moves to explain further.
Owen: I came home the other day, and she was sat on my back patio drinking wine.
Shaun: That’s a little creepy
Owen: I know… needless to say I put forward the security system. Anyway, long story short, it seems like she still has a thing for you
Shaun: That’s ridiculous, that was years ago.
Owen: Even so Shaun, she wants you, and she wants you bad.
Shaun: OK, so what’s that got to do with you?
Owen: Well, this is where we come to the fucked-up part.
Shaun: It wasn’t fucked up her breaking into your house?
Owen: There’s more…
Owen pauses to take another sip of his drink, waiting for that familiar feeling of warmth before continuing.
Owen: Like I say, she wants you back and is willing to go to great lengths to make it happen. She broke into my house to inform me what she was going to do, and then I was going to help her. Basically, I was supposed to help break you and Angyalka up, split up your family so that she could be with you…
Shaun: Like that would happen regardless.
Owen: Oh, I know, but you haven’t heard the kicker. If I didn’t help her, then she would tell Regan what she knew…
Shaun: Knew?
Owen pauses, he was going to leave this bit out but there was no going back now.
Owen: That Jennifer and I are back together and trying to make a go of it.
Shaun: Wow. So, blackmail then?
Owen: In a nutshell yeah.
Shaun: But… how does she know that Regan would be angry? I mean I know she’s stubborn and all, but all she wants is for Jennifer to be happy.
Owen: Oh, she knows alright…
Owen holds up his wrist, that although was no longer bruised, was still in a protective glove that’s to Josh Hudson’s attack.
Shaun: Regan was the one who injured your wrist?
Owen: Not really, she pushed me away, I fell over and this is the net result. But I wasn’t even with Jennifer then, Regan only thought I was thanks to Maisie sending her photos of us hugging. If she found out for real that we were together she would hit the roof.
Shaun: Hold on… so this was the injury you carried into Taking Hold of the Flame?
Owen nods sheepishly
Owen: Yeah, but aren’t we getting away from the point here?
Shaun: Owen you could have done yourself a permanently injury. Hudson could have broken it.
Owen: Maybe, but he didn’t. Anyway, it doesn’t matter now, what are we going to do about Maisie?
Shaun: I’ll talk to her…
“You’ll talk to who?”
Angyalka walks back into the room at the most inopportune moment, Owen immediately glancing over to Shaun who answers without any hesitation.
Shaun: Maisie
Angyalka: That witch, what does she want now?
Shaun: She’s blackmailing Owen, still wants me… can’t really blame her
Owen scowls, not believing how laid-back Shaun was being.
Shaun: Says she’s going to tell Regan that Owen and Jennifer are back together.
Angyalka: You are… aww that’s amazing, the two of you should never have split up.
Owen: HOLD ON A MINUTE!!!
Angyalka and Shaun both turn to Owen, surprised by the interruption.
Owen: This woman is a nutcase, and you two are being very blasé about it.
Shaun: Owen, I’ve dealt with her once, and I deal with her again. She won’t allow this to get out of hand because she knows she’ll end up back in the clinic. I’ll meet with her, give her a few home truths and she’ll go away, I promise.
Owen: This is the same woman who stabbed Pixie when she was pregnant.
Shaun finishes off his whiskey, before picking up the glass and pouring himself another, motioning towards Owen’s glass, Owen declining.
Shaun: Yeah, it is… but I know how to deal with her. She’ll soon back off once I have spoken with her. And anyway, if not I’ll set Angy on her. Be the perfect practice for her return to the ring. Now, more important things, are you saying for dinner? Got some fine steaks I’ve been marinading for a while.
Owen: Sure… I guess.
Owen had wanted Shaun to speak with Maisie, but he didn’t seem to be taking the threat seriously. Of course, Owen hoped he was right, but Shaun hadn’t seen her, the look in her eye back in Miami. Maybe it was just easier for Jennifer and him to come clean, and deal with those consequences. Owen shudders, putting that thought to the back of his mind.
25th June 2022
Miami
The visit with Shaun had gone really well considering. Yeah, it was weird talking about SCW stuff, him being the General Manager, but in the main it had just been like old times. A week had passed since then, and Owen found himself back in Miami, waiting for Daisy who had text him only moments earlier. What she was doing in Miami, Owen didn’t know, but it was apparently important. And when Daisy said something was important it invariably was. The doorbell rings, Owen jumping to his feet and heading through the house, opening the door, hugging Daisy who stands in the doorway.
Daisy: That was quite the welcome
Owen: Well, it’s been a while. Not going to apologize for that.
Daisy smirks and follows Owen into the house. Compared with when she’d first reconnected with him, Owen was in a much better place, but still seemed to have one missing piece. That piece was Jennifer, and hopefully Daisy could help with that.
Owen: Drink?
Daisy: No thank you, just passing through. How’s the arm?
Owen: It’s OK, getting better. Hudson is doing his best though to ensure otherwise.
Owen pulls a Coors out of the fridge and takes off the cap, taking a drink.
Owen: So, to what do I owe the pleasure, what can I do for you?
Daisy: Actually Owen, it’s what I can do for you.
Owen tilts his head slightly, more than a little intrigued and he motions through the doors and onto the outside patio where they both sit.
Owen: So, what’s this all about?
Daisy: Rachel went to see Regan…
Immediately Owen feels a sense of trepidation, a feeling he got whenever Regan’s name was mentioned
Owen: She didn’t have to do that.
Daisy: No, she didn’t have to, she wanted to.
Owen: You mean YOU wanted her to
Daisy shakes her head, obviously disagreeing.
Daisy: Not at all. Rachel believes that you deserve a second chance and did what she could to help. Yeah, I might have asked her to, but she had no problem at all doing what she could to help.
Owen: And did she… help I mean?
Daisy: I don’t know.
Owen scowls, confused by the response. He had been expecting either a yes or no answer and not something so obviously vague.
Owen: Don’t know? What’s that supposed to mean?
Daisy: You know as well as I do Owen that Regan very difficult to read, even for someone like Rachel who is closer to her than most. According to Rachel, to begin with she was even giving you the time of day. Rachel made the point of the mistakes that the two of them had made, and how they probably did much worse that you ever did. Regan even asked Rachel why she was defending him, and Rachel told her that it was because you knew you’d fucked up and were trying to do something about it. But fact is, Regan doesn’t believe you are right for Jennifer, she doesn’t trust you, and I’m not sure you are going to be able to change that.
Owen: Great.
Owen chugs on the beer again, shaking his head. Whilst he understood that Regan was protecting Jennifer, it didn’t seem fair. His mind races, was this really the end for the two of them?
Owen: So, I guess this is the part where you tell me to let her go and focus on the rest of my life?
Daisy: Actually, no it isn’t.
Owen scowls again, his default setting it seemed throughout this conversation.
Owen: What, if probably the closest person to Regan other than her family can’t change her mind, what hope do I have? It’s like you said to me months ago, sometimes it’s just better to let things go so that you can heal.
Daisy: Yeah, I did say that. But I also said that if there is a chance, there is hope and I haven’t told you what else Rachel said. She asked Regan to forgive you… to help you to heal by forgiving you and that you deserve that much.
Owen: Wow, she really went for it.
Daisy: Like I said, she cares about you… she believes in you. Rachel reckons there was just something about the look on Regan’s face when she left. For the first time, it looked like Rachel may have gotten through to her. Not going to lie Owen, if you are going to continue seeing Jennifer, I’d make a point of making sure you don’t put a foot wrong because if you do, that will be it. My advice if you want it?
Owen: Of course. Always.
Daisy: Speak to her, speak to Dave. Make it clear that you’ve grown up and Jennifer is your only priority. I can’t guarantee it, but according to Rachel you might be surprised with Regan’s reaction.
Owen: Well, anything would be better than her almost breaking my wrist.
He laughs, but it is only a half laugh, Daisy sensing that.
Daisy: You get Regan on your side, and your set for life. Mess with that and she can be your worst enemy. Right now, I think she is in the middle, it’s now up to you to change that. And after what you’ve achieved so far Owen, that should be a piece of cake.
Owen: You reckon?
Daisy: Yeah, I do. And after all, Jennifer is worth it right?
Owen: Definitely.
Daisy: Then have at it tiger… what you got to lose?
Owen thinks about responding, as there were several body parts that instantly came to mind, but he keeps his counsel. If Rachel was willing to stick her neck out for him, then he owed it to her to give it his best shot. Daisy was right, he had been through worse, but Jennifer was the final piece in the puzzle. Without her, he’d be far less a person, and he didn’t want that. He had to try, no matter the cost, and Rachel had given him every reason to do precisely that.