The Tiyanak

The Ten Swords

Sasha held the door to The Ten Swords for Alicia as she stepped in first. Being Sunday afternoon, only a few tables were occupied, and in the corner, Alicia could see a couple of guys playing a tabletop game, moving their models around to gain an advantage over the enemy. Alicia recognized one of the players by his long ginger beard, he was a regular here. He had been nicknamed The One-Turn Tabler by the patrons due to him being able to 'table' his opponents on turn one – whatever that meant. He never seemed to battle the same person twice, probably because people were sick of his bullshit. Someone she knew even walked away from him before he even had a turn, complaining that people like him were killing the game. Alicia didn't really care either way, she never played these games so why get upset about it?

Matt was behind the bar, wiping the table down. Alicia couldn't help but catch a glimpse of his arms, which seemed a bit more ripped than last time she saw him.

He was the other reason she loved coming to this place.

Matt raised his head and Alicia's head switched away. "Hey up, here comes trouble!" he said with a laugh.

"Whatcha, Matt," Sasha said with a wave. "Someone's been working out!"

"Oh, these?" Matt said, eyeing his own muscles. "Not bad, eh? My trainer's said I've improved a lot – I might be able to make my debut in a couple of months."

"Well hope you invite us to your first match."

"You'll be the first to know!"

"What's your wrestling name?"

"I'm toying with the name Lucha Penguin."

"Lucha Penguin?"

"Yeah, it's sort of a joke, because Lucha is a high-flying style – and penguins can't fly."

Sasha laughed and smile. "I have no fucking clue what you're talking about!"

Matt laughed. "Usual?"

"Thought you'd never ask."

"Take a seat, I'll bring them right over."

Alicia and Sasha found a table not too from the bar and took the weight off their feet. "So, what's so interesting about the floor?" Sasha asked.

"What?" Alicia said.

"I just noticed you haven't looked up since you walked in," Sasha joked.

"Ok," Alicia said, her eyes darting towards Matt.

"You know, you can just ask him," Sasha said.

"Shut up!" Alicia said, going bright red.

Sasha chuckled. "I don't blame you," Sasha said, "you won't find a nicer guy than Matt."

Alicia found it amazing that, even after everything Sasha had been through, she hadn't been turned off men altogether – many of the girls in their group refused to even look at a man after their experience. Not without good reason of course; but Sasha said she would never demonise an entire gender just because of the action of one person.

"Why don't you ask him out then?" Alicia asked.

Sasha folded her arms, sighing hard. "Because he's gay."

"What?" Alicia asked. "Matt's not gay!"

"Er, yeah he is!" Sasha exclaimed. "Why do you think he spends his time rolling around with other men?"

"All wrestlers do that," Alicia replied. "Doesn't mean he's gay!"

"What do you care? You don't fancy him."

"I don't, I just..."

Sasha couldn't resist a little smirk at Alicia, raising an eyebrow. Alicia tried to avoid it.

The aforementioned subject of conversation walked into view, tray in hand. "Here we go, girls. One hot chocolate with whipped cream, and one diet coke." When he saw Alicia wasn't looking at him, he narrowed his eyes. "Have I missed something?"

"Oh nothing," Sasha said, "I was just saying that Alicia will never get in your pants because you're gay."

Alicia kicked Sasha under the table. Sasha whined and rubbed her knee.

Matt turned to Alicia, who looked away. "So, you want to get in my pants, do you?"

Alicia was like a traffic light permanently lit red.

"I'm flattered," Matt said, "but my boyfriend would kill me."

The look of surprise, and disappointment, on Alicia's face could have rivalled The Scream for raw intensity. "I'm kidding!" he said. "Sasha's fucking with you."

"Oh, really?" Alicia's relief couldn't have been more obvious. "I see."

"Seriously, what is it with you and telling everyone I'm gay?" Matt laughed.

"A man rolling around with other oiled up guys? Sounds pretty gay to me!"

"We don't oil ourselves!" Matt protested. "Well, not ALL of us!"

Alicia knew Matt wouldn't take offence to Sasha's remarks, she always had a boisterous sense of humour.

"Do you want me to add this to your tab?" Matt asked.

"If that's ok?" Sasha said.

"You guys want any food?" Matt asked. "I got a special on vegan soup today."

"We'll let you know," Sasha said.

"All right, if you need me, I'll be round the back." Matt turned to Alicia. "Wearing nothing but tight pants."

Alicia gasped and her coke spluttered from her mouth. She looked up at Matt, who just winked back at her.

"You're too easy to wind up," Sasha laughed. "You should totally ask him out though."

"I... I don't think..."

"What? That you're his type? I could see his hard-on for you!"

"Sash!"

Sasha laughed, and then leaned in. "Seriously though, well done for talking today. Hell, it was at least two weeks before I could say anything. Not because I was nervous, mind – I was just so angry. It's good that you shared."

"Thanks," Alicia said.

"Are you keeping up with your video blog?" Sasha asked.

"Haven't uploaded in a while," Alicia replied.

"You should," Sasha said. "It helped me no end."

"How did you manage to cope with it?" Alicia asked. "All the shit you went through and you still have such a positive outlook."

"It's like what Ms Potts said," Sasha replied, "you fight hate with love. Don't get me wrong, I want nothing more to hunt down the cunt and rip his fucking throat out. But then, I would have been the one who went to prison."

"You would have been totally justified though," Alicia said, "the court would understand you."

"Yeah right!" Sasha laughed, pointing to her face. "The jury would take one look at me and they'd think I was guilty without any trial."

"Oh, come on, it's not that bad!"

"I know. I'm kidding. But like I was saying, Oscar Wilde once said it was best to forgive your enemies, as nothing pisses them off more.

"Not sure that's the exact quote," Alicia told her.

"Well, close enough!"