Absolute Smokeshow

Cope Break

"So, what happened during the show?"
Marisol's question confused you.
"You were right next to me the whole time?" you said, trying to figure out what she meant as the small crowd began to disperse, a few people hanging back to chat.
"I'm not really into wrestling," she explained, "So I was... watching you enjoy yourself instead."
Before you had time to react, she took your hand and began leading you toward the direction the wrestlers had entered from.
"Vámonos, I know some of the wrestlers," Mari hastily changed the subject. "I'll introduce you."

As the two of you approached the door to the locker rooms, a figure you recognized as the show's ring announcer burst through the doors.
"Marisol! Good to see you!" they boomed, pausing their hasty stride. "You made it!"
"Por supuesto! I said I would!" she grinned in response.
"And you brought someone with you!" The announcer shook your hand. "No wonder we were suspiciously close to breaking even tonight. Now, I need to do some networking, but the ladies are in the back. I'm sure they'd love to see you!"
Marisol nodded before her friend walked briskly toward a group of stragglers.

"Think we could pop out for a joint, actually?" you asked, anxiety returning at the thought of meeting several new people in a small space.
"How about you start one off for us and I bring my friends out back to meet you?" she replied, handing you the carton. "We can all smoke together."
"Sounds good to me!" You sighed a breath of relief, giving Mari a quick kiss before heading for the exit, joints in tow.

-

"She was- she-"
Thea Hail sobbed, still clutching the Eradicator as the door swung closed.
"Let's get you sat down," Rhea insisted as she used her uninjured arm to guide the younger woman toward the small couch.
Once her guest was seated, Rhea broke out the first aid kit she travelled with before sitting on the couch herself. Noticing how much the blonde was trembling as she took out the bandages, Rhea paused her preparations.

"I need you to breathe with me," she explained. "Think you can do that?"
Thea nodded, tears silently running down her face. She followed the pattern:
Inhale... 2... 3... 4...
Hold... 2... 3... 4...
Exhale... 2... 3... 4...
Hold... 2... 3... 4...
"There, you're holding yourself steadier already," Rhea commented, tearing open an alcohol pad. "Lean your head forward."

The order was obeyed and the Eradicator did her best to part the blood-matted strands of blonde with her fingers before announcing: "This is going to sting."
Thea winced as the rubbing alcohol seeped into the wound.
"Almost done," Rhea muttered, swiping the bloodied pad over the cut one last time before tossing it in the direction of the trash bin. She immediately grabbed a square of gauze and placed it over the fresh bleeding. "Hold that there."
Thea did so, watching as more alcohol pads were torn open - surprisingly well for being done one-handed - before being brushed against the scrapes on her knees.

"So, do you... want to talk about it?" Rhea asked awkwardly, noticing the younger woman's tears drying.
"It's... Jacy," Thea admitted, gaze fixed on her knees as Rhea struggled with a large adhesive bandage before handing it to the younger woman to apply herself in exchange for the gauze that had been on her head. "She wanted me to help attack you again, but I told her I wouldn't do it. I felt awful for helping her the first time already."
"You shouldn't feel bad - you were just the distraction," Rhea said, tossing the gauze and placing butterfly bandages across the forehead wound to keep it from splitting open. "What happened next?"

"She just... started throwing things at me," Thea recounted, tears welling in her eyes once more at the memory. "Said I'm useless and that she never wants to see me again. When she kicked me out, she mentioned something about how she already knew someone who would help her get revenge if I wouldn't."
"The fucking twat." Rhea growled, holding the monster back; she couldn't go after Jacy and this mystery person with her current injury - not without a plan. "Did she say who?"
Thea shook her head.
"Just that it was someone you'd hurt worse than her."