Trumpets and Buckets

Ever heard of the bathtub test? I know, it sounds pretty silly. And maybe it's just an internet thing. But there's something about it that just... speaks to me. At least in a situation like I'm in this week. Here, I'll explain. Ya see, a man was visiting a mental asylum... for whatever reason. He came across the director of the asylum and asked 'em how they know to institutionalize people. The director explained how they filled up a bathtub and handed patients a spoon, a teacup and a bucket, then asked them to empty the tub.

The man thought about this for a minute, before telling the director (in a pretty darn proud tone) that he understood. Normal people would use the bucket, because it's bigger than the spoon and the teacup. It seemed like the most logical choice. But the director shook his head and responded that a normal person... would actually the plug. It's a funny little 'thing' that I'm sure a few have heard... but can this joke be more than that?

People like my opponent this week... like Scott Knight... like Brett Carson... like Cera... and others. These kinds of people tend to use methods much like spoons, teacups and buckets. They'd try to empty out the tub. And it's not because they're dumb, or crazy, or don't see the plug or whatever. It's cuz they don't know any other way. They think... situations can be handled by simply emptying out what they don't like. One by one. Situation by situation.

My opinion's always been burn the whole freakkin' thing down!

My foe... he's got some issues he think he can resolve with swift vengeance. But he doesn't take into consideration... the fact that there're quite a few flaws in the way he's going about things. Mediocre, rookie mistakes that make 'em look like he's two beans short of a cup of coffee. After all, even using a large container to scoop out the water... to take or do what you want... is better than what he does. Because Edward Myers.... uses his hands. And as everything falls through his big... muscular... slightly threatening fingers, I'll stand in front of him and ask...

Do you need a bucket, Eddy?

♫ Time to listen to... my confession, I'm... much less than I wanted to be, wanted to be! You shine a light on my... dark side, but you... don't care what you see... ♫

"...lock me up with joy and kisses, lock me up with love! Chain me to your heart's desire, I don't want you to stop!"

I twirled on the carpeting of my hotel room, dancing to The Cab. My manager, Andy Wilde, was fixing her tie in the bedroom mirror. She watched my reflection swaying around and chuckled to herself. We were in Mankato again, and heading somewhere fancy as heck that night. I was already donning my little black dress, panda earrings, and super sparkly rainbow colored shoes (because gay pride ftw). Andy, on the other hand, was wearing a dress shirt, a red tie, and dress pants. She kinda looked hot in the outfit, though. It fit her well.

"Are we still waiting on Jessi?"

Slowing my dancing, I looked over at Wilde before shrugging. "She has to fix her makeup, neh?"

"Yeah, because you fucked it up."

"DID NOT!"

"YOU PUT BLACK LIPSTICK ON HER!"

"Hey, black is the new pink. And the retro goth look is in, yo."

"No."

"Don't say no to me!" I shouted, and my manager suddenly sauntered up to me and put a finger to my forehead.

"All of that said, shouldn't you be resting instead of us going to this... what was it?"

"We're gonna go see the Mankato Symphony Orchestra." I nodded firmly, before glaring away. "And anyway, I've rested enough. I doubt I have the concussion anymore."

"Still..."

"You worry too much. I'm ready for this week. I've been training, and I know my limits."

Wilde watched me for a couple of seconds, before frowning. "You're lying to me."

"Wut? First of all, why do you think I'm lying to you??" I demanded an answer with a frown of my own, and Andy crosses her arms across her chest.

"Because your boobs won't make eye contact with me."

"....that doesn't mean anything, my boobs are very shy!!!"

At that moment, Jessi stepped out of the bathroom, stared at us... then turned around and went right back in. I blinked, and then pointed at Andy accusingly. "This is YOUR fault! Now we'll never leave!"

"MY fault? YOU'RE the one yelling about your boobs! It's VERY distracting."

"Your FACE is distracting!!!"

"Creative response, sugar nips."

"MY NIPPLES ARE NOT SUGARY!"

The door to the bathroom suddenly slammed open again, and Jessi took a deep breath and stepped forward, glaring at us...

"W-will you two shut up?"

"........."

"U-uhm. Please...? ...I'm sorry..."

With an amused grin, I scurried over to the small blonde and snuggled her tightly. "You're so ceeeeuuuute, Jessiii!"

"U-uhm." She looked up at me nervously, then glanced over at Andy, who watched with a slight pout.

"I'm getting jealous, V."

"GROUP HUG!" I shouted, throwing an arm toward my manager.

"Nah, I'm good."

"....but...."

With a shake of her head, Andy began tapping her foot impatiently. "We have somewhere to go, don't we...? Can we head out already?"

"Fine..."

The three of us began heading out of the hotel, our destination not too far away. We simply got into the car and made our way there, talking about all kinds of stuff. But the conversation didn't hit that important note yet, but it would when we arrived at the building, left the car, and entered the establishment. The Kato Ballroom was gorgeous... and ritzy... and posh. The golden lighting set the mood, and the inviting colors of the room the symphony would be playing in was just top notch.

"Wow... gaudy as hell." Andy commented, as the usually quiet Jessi lived up to just that. I, however, was in awe.

"It's so prettyy!"

"V... this table over here." My manager gestured for us to follow, and soon we were all sitting down at a large table, covered with an expensive looking tablecloth. A waiter strolled over, asking us if we wanted anything...

"Do you have any sweet red wine?" I asked innocently, and the mustachioed man (did everyone who worked there have such sexy facial hair?) said he'd go check.

"Sooo..." Andy started, and Jessi turned to look at me as well. Distracted by the orchestra finishing up setting up their instruments, it took a moment for me to respond, before I glanced over at the other two ladies.

"So?"

"Your opponent, V..."

"Oh yeah... his name was like, Edward Myers or something."

"Yeah, you already know of him."

"No I don't... I've never heard of him. I thought it was pretty weird that he was in the main event with me, though."

"N-Nessa... it's Mr E..."

"..."

"..."

"WUT?!" I cried dramatically, as our conversation continued even over the sounds of the orchestra starting their first song of the night. Andy leaned forward to be heard better...

"Yeah, Mr E revealed his actual name... and who he was in general. This is why you need to pay attention to things..."

"I was busy with a concussion!"

"And with Stacy and her girlfriend...?"

"I... that's..." Tapping my chin as I tried to come up with an explanation without giving too much away, I finally sighed and smiled slightly. "It's none of your business."

"Like hell it isn't. I'm your manager!"

"Which is why we should focus on Mr Myers." I replied curtly, before rubbing my chin now. "So I know he's huge... and super dependent on his Uncle..."

"H-having respect for y-your uncle isn't being d-dependent..." Jessi piped up, and I shook my head wildly.

"No, you don't understand. He speaks for him in a lot of cases! He's like the conductor of Eddy's lil orchestra!" I dramatically pointed toward the stage the musicians were playing on, brandishing my amazing ability to come up with symbolic references.

"That says nothing about his ability in the ring, though." Wilde pointed out with a scowl. She didn't seem too fond of Edward. Though I couldn't blame her...

"He's strong, of course. He's large. He's got his eye on victory. He's brutal and serious and tough. Blahblahblah, I've seen it before. I don't think the poor mofo realized the experience I have. Not in years, but in matches... in the originality and assortment of types of bouts and opponents."

"You've seen a lot."

"Yep. And he's... nothing... new."

Andy smirked slightly, resting a chin on her palm. "What a statement."

"If he's the same Edward Myers I'm thinking of... well, I'm not his fan."

"Well recently, when he came out..."

"Of the closet?"

"No. Shush." Wilde put a finger to my lips, before continuing. "He's basically the brother of a former world champ and hall of famer. Someone he claims was one of the greatest wrestlers to exist. Because, with him being his brother, it's totally not a biased opinion."

"Ha, right right."

"And apparently that brother was once married to Rayne or something?" I stopped grinning, my lips forming a frown as my manager continued, "For whatever reason, he's here in VoW on behalf of his brother... to get revenge on Rayne and Ryan. Not sure on any other details though..."

"Re...venge..."

Struck a chord, did it... peasant?

Tensing as the voice of my alter ego, the Queen, popped into my subconscious, I snapped a response in my mind, 'I thought I got rid of you...'

You know it is not that easy...

Clenching my jaw, I exhaled and returned my gaze to Andy's curious one. "Before you embark on a journey of revenge... dig two graves."

"Uh, what?"

"An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. Should I fucking go on?!"

Wilde looked over at Jessi for some kind of explanation, and the small Brit shook her head. "Nessa h-hates the idea of r-revenge..."

"Of course I do! It's childish!" I snapped, ignoring the dirty looks these rich bastards in the room gave me. "So Myers is here to take vengeance on my friends for whatever reason... that's why he's in VoW? That's the reason he joined an up and comin' wrestling federation who wants to make it in the big leagues? The reason he fights every week...? To... get... REVENGE?! Why wouldn't he just stroll in and do it? Why wait? Why do all this shit and go through all this trouble?!"

"Because... he wants to be mysterious? Fuck, I dunno." Andy shrugged, and I rubbed my temples in frustration. After a moment, I dropped my hands and stared at the table... the waiter FINALLY returning with the bottle of wine. Glancing at the bucket of ice the alcohol sat in, I cracked a grin...

"Though his convictions... his motives... can possibly work for me." My manager and assistant both shot me a befuddled look, and I explained in a more relaxed, cheerful tone, as trumpets from the orchestra blared in the background... "From his uncle to his stupid lil need for revenge... it's everything that defines a controlled man. Controlled by others. Whether they be someone who speaks for you, or someone who controls enough of your emotions for you to be pretty darn focused on revenge. He can be a badass in the ring all he wants... but that's not always all that you need. Especially depending on your opponent."

"Are you saying... he's never had an opponent like you?"

"Exactly. And with what I've got planned... I'm pretty confident in my chances." I bit my lip, staring upward with a wicked glint in my eyes. Andy grinned and leaned back in her chair.

"So you think you've got the advantage, then...?"

"More than some people think." I smirked, then looked back toward the orchestra as I opened the bottle of wine. We all fell silent and sipped our beverages, listening to the music for a while, until another new song started up. I commented a few seconds in... "Wow, this song is good."

"Yeah, they aren't HUGE, but they're definitely talented." Andy commented with a nod, and I smiled at the flute solo, then grinned wider as everyone in the band started up on cue, pushing the envelope for their final song of the night...

The percussion picked it up now, only adding to that epic song... and with every beat, I began tapping my foot. A second beat was added, and I paused a moment... before clapping after each tap. 1 2, 1 2, 1 2. The ritzy folk around me whispered and pointed some more, watching with wary frowns. But I ignored them and grinned, enjoying the song the symphony was playing. Jessi, still red, sank in her seat. She couldn't handle people staring at her very well. Andy, however, was watching me thoughtfully, then glanced around, before smirking and following suit.

The other people in the room gawked as my manager and I stomped and clapped to the music the symphony was playing. That is... until a couple of people joined in. And a few more. And soon...? The entire room was getting in on it. The members of the symphony all looked up from their concentration, stunned, as their audience joined in with their form of art. My electric blue eyes trailed along each man and woman, as one by one... smiles began forming. Popping quickly to my feet, I continued stomping and clapping, and others joined me on their feet as well.

The gray is lifting...

The song soon ended, and the audience burst into applause. They laughed as they cheered, finally looking like they were having fun. I watched with a smirk, before standing up and waving down the manager of the building. As the orchestra bowed proudly, the man came over and smiled brightly at me. "Well, Miss Vanessa, you certainly like to leave your mark..."

"Funny, I usually mark things by licking them..."

"What?"

"Uh nevermind..." I awkwardly looked away, before turning to the table and grabbing the bucket of ice and putting the wine inside it down. Turning back to the owner, I smiled sheepishly. "Anyway... if I pay you enough, do you think I could have this bucket?"

"Whatever for?"

"Uh... souvenir. Among other reasons..." I smiled mysteriously (or should I say with a bit of MrE... get it, get it? Ahaha). The manager blinked, before twirling his fancy pants mustache with his fingers once more that night.

"I suppose so. You can have it. And don't worry about paying for it..." He smiled warmly at me, and I returned the grin, before taking one look back at the orchestra. My eyes narrowed in thought, an uncharacteristically serious look crossing my features for a second, before I suddenly twirled around and poured the ice inside my new bucket all over Jessi!

"ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE!"

"AHHHHHHH! W-WHAT THE HE-HECK V-VANESS-SSA!!??" Jessi shouted, and everyone looked over again as my poor assistant stood there, ice inside her shirt and resting on her head. She was a bit wet too. And wearing a white dress. Bwahahaha!

Jessi hurriedly ran out of the ballroom, scrambling out of the building, and Andy sighed and shook her head at me. "I dunno if you've just got a sick sense of humor, are a pervert, or just like messing with her."

"All of the above." I responded casually, starting to follow Jessi (hopefully she'd forgive me... prolly not). Andy was hot on my tail as I spoke, bucket still in hand. "Soooo... who's my conductor? You? Jessi? The VoW management?"

"I don't think you have one, V." Andy shoved her hands in her pockets, staring into the distance thoughtfully. "Considering how your mind is a billion places at once, I don't think you could."

"Oh... so I'm my own conductor?"

"You're an entire orchestra."

"...that makes me sound kinda crazy. Jerk."

"Eh?" Wilde glanced over at me, blinked, then smirked and started walking faster as she spoke... "What're you talking about? I like crazy."

I slowed my own pace, watching as Andy headed out the big double doors. There was a moment there where I almost came to a full stop, but I pushed certain thoughts outta my mind and kept on walkin'. Placing the bucket on my head, I marched forward, knowin' full well what I was getting into at the main event this week. Knowing full well that Eddy knew all about me, knew how to beat me, and damn well could. That is, if he'd stop being Thompson's puppet, and refrained cupping his hands together...

Maybe I'd let him borrow my bucket.

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~This has been a V rp, thanx for reading and have a great f*cking day!~