~The Angel Has Landed~ [O2A]

[Adrian Taylor]

~Today had been an incredibly exhausting day, to say the least. Adrian had to put everything he had in Los Angeles on hold while he debated over whether or not to go to Las Vegas. One of the higher ups in the new wrestling promotion, Sin City Wrestling, had offered him a spot on their roster. It didn't take long for him to make a decision. He booked himself a ticket and hopped on the next plane down here. The place was exactly as he had remembered it. Always lively. People crawling all over the place, eager to lose money and have a wild time they will soon regret after logging into their social network while recovering from a hangover. He'd been here before with some FAMiliar faces from days past. Adrian wondered if he would run into them while he was here. He couldn't help but crack a smirk at the thought. Good times, good times. The reminiscing was short lived because he had to immediately take a limousine over to his living arrangements set up at SCW Towers. Adrian was faced again with the old and unfunny joke of being stuck with room number 187. Yeah. He got it. He went under the name 'Tha Infamous 187'. Let's stick him with the suite that's the same as his namesake. It'll make it easier to find him. Ugh. After dropping his luggage off, Adrian headed up to the offices of the head honcho that ran the joint. He had to make the whole deal official. Sign his name on the dotted line. Talk money and all that jazz. Apparently, Rouge was quite impressed with how he had handed the Asylum Center Incident. He was a big name and she needed star power. She wanted someone who was hot right now and he fit the bill. After the contract negotiations had been handled, he was free to do whatever he wanted for the rest of the night. He wanted to sit down and take a load off. Adrian heard that the company had it's own casino open to the public. And where there is a casino, there must be a bar. Or a mini-bar at least. Either way, there was going to be alcohol and he needed a drink. And soon.

He found it like a hungry wolf tracking down a scent that had enthralled his senses. Adrian plopped down on an open stool at the bar in Lucky Starz Casino. He took a deep breath and exhaled a long sigh. Letting go the stress of a busy and productive day. The bartender noticed the new customer who arrived and headed over to where Adrian was sitting. They leaned forward on the bar with a smile on their face and greeted him...~

Bartender: "Hey there. What can I get for ya?"

"You wouldn't happen to have any Hennessy in stock, would you?"

Bartender: "Of course, we do."

"Bring me a glass and a bottle of Hennessy. No ice."

Bartender: "Alright. Coming right up."

~The bartender turned away and walked off to retrieve Adrian's order. While they were gone, Adrian leaned back in his chair and stuck his hands into the pockets of his red jacket. He pulled a box of Newport cigarettes from one and a golden Zippo lighter from the other. He flipped the top of his box open and pulled a single cigarette out. Then he stuck it in his lips and stuffed the box back in his pocket. After that, he opened his lighter, sparked the flame, and lit the cigarette. Adrian took a long drag from it and closed the lighter. He put the lighter back in the other pocket. Then he removed the cigarette from his lips and slowly blew a smoke plume into the air above his head. Yeah. He needed that. Calm his nerves. Relax. Then he turned his head to look around and see what was going on around him.~

[Mikki Wilson]

-Having no real idea why she came into a bar, Mikki looks around surveying the scenery. It looked like a pretty upscale place. Sitting down at a stool that was just one away from Adrian, she rubs her face as the bartender comes over to her. Looking her over, he asks.-

Bartender: There anything I can get you little lady?

-Nodding from behind her hands, she replies.-

" Just a glass of Raspberry lemonade. "

-As he goes about getting her drink, he sees the black Xs written on the back of her hands, he asks out of curiosity.-

"What's with the Xs on your hands? I've never seen something like that before."

-Shaking her head, she replies with a groan.-

" It means, if I taste a hint of alcohol in my drink I will knock your teeth down your throat. "

-Getting the hint he replies.-

" Oh, you're one of those straightedge pansies are you? "

-Bringing her hands down from her aching head, she gives him a look that could kill.-

" Just give me my drink and shut the hell up okay? "

-She usually wasn't this hostile but her headache combined with the uncomfortable stares her and Jeff got not only on the plane ride but in the taxi ride and even during her contract signing and on their way to their suite were really starting to ware on her. Saying to no one in particular, she thinks aloud.-

" Some fucking people I swear... "

[Adrian Taylor]

"Heh, heh, heh... Oh boy. This probably won't end well."

~...said Adrian, laughing to himself after what he just witnessed. The bartender was right though. He recognized the X's out of the corner of his eyes too. That movement seemed to be getting more and more popular over the years. However, what a straightedge was doing at a bar was a mystery to him. What a straightedge was doing in a place like Las Vegas, Nevada was an even better question. It didn't bother him, but it was interesting. He looked over and saw who it was that was having their little fight with the bartender. Mikki Wilson. Someone who he'd worked in previous companies with, but never actually had any personal interaction with the woman. He just knew he recognized her. He figured he'd talk to her.~

"Someone sounds like they're having a rough night tonight, eh?"

~...He said to Mikki. Adrian reached forward to grab the bottle of Hennessy he ordered and twisted the top off. Then he poured himself a glass and set the bottle down on the bar. Then he took a firm hold of his glass and brought it to him lips. Taking a quick drink, he set the glass down with his hand still on it and looked at Mikki. Wondering what her response might be.~

[Zhafaria Rouge]

One might wonder why Zhafaria was in the bar instead of doing important "owning-a-wrestling-promotion" stuff, and one would get the same answer everyone else would. All work and no play makes Rouge a cranky boss. And a cranky boss isn't good for business. It's obvious. So, there was a bar in her establishment, why not go to it? She spots two of the recent signees to SCW and decides to sit near them, might as well. Could learn some things from them that would be beneficial in the future.

Zhafaria: Bartender? Give me a bottle of grape pinnacle please?

Bartender: We don't have Pinnacle ma'am.

Zhafaria: .... you what?

Bartender: None of it was ordered

Zhafaria: Well, get back there, and tell Parks and Baxter to order some damn Grape Pinnacle, or it'll be their heads.

Yes ma'am.

Zhafaria: Damn, I know I told them to order some grape pinnacle, it's sad when you can't even get the kind of alcohol you want in your own bar isn't it?

She smiles and looks over at the two, waiting for one of them to say something.

[Mikki Wilson]

-Nodding to him, she replies.-

" Yeah, I had trouble at the airport in Charlotte, had a screaming brat behind me on the plane, and people wouldn't stop staring at my husband who has an eye patch. If I wasn't straightedge i would be driven to drink. "

-Letting out a loud sigh, she looks and finally sees who it was.-

" You're 187 right? I think I saw you when I worked for APW. What have you been up to? "

-She knew about the incident in Philly and she honestly couldn't care any less about it.-

[Adrian Taylor]

"Should have him get one of those fake eyes. They work wonders sometimes."

~Adrian tapped the left side of his face, indicating he knew what it was like to only have one good working eye. Luckily, his dark shadow had gotten him one of those state of the art bionic eye implants they've been developing somewhere out there in some lab. Where they found the thing, he didn't even know. ~

"And there's one simply way to deal with a crying brat... You grab the little headache and you shake them silent. If that don't work, take the belt to their backside. And if the parents get involved, take the belt to their backsides. It'll make you feel a whole lot better."

~He shrugged his shoulders. Then he looked at the boss-lady who has come down to join him and Mikki. He cracked a smirk and said to her...~

"And there's one way to deal with forgetful employees... Crack them in the head with a kendo stick. Soon they'll learn to listen to whose boss."

~He nodded and pointed at Zhafaria before taking another drink from his glass~

[Zhafaria Rouge]

Zhafaria: Well, if he keeps it up I may have you do that for me. Replicate in Vegas what you did in Philadelphia. Although, the men I signed are bigger than that Travis.... whatever his name was man, so I don't think you'll be doing that here. One of the men who has already signed is one of the men you hate the most according to New York, but I'll leave you to figure that out.

She nodded to the bartender as he brought her some Irish Whiskey and Absolut. Only thing they were good for was knowing what she liked, if he brought anything else she would have had Adrian handle matters right here in this bar.

[Mikki Wilson]

-Nodding about the glass eyes, Mikki replies.-

" Not sure he wants to get one of those, I might talk to him about it though. I could have beaten some people up on the plane but I don't want some jackass air marshal tasing me. It's bad enough they practically try to get to third base with you when you go through security. "

-Looking at her boss, raises her glass of lemonade and asks.-

" What's up boss lady? "

[Adrian Taylor]

"New York..."

~...Adrian thought for a moment, but he knew who the boss was referring to. He brought his cigarette up to his lips and took a nice, long drag. That rat bastard was going to be here in Las Vegas? He didn't give a fuck. He wasn't the same person he was several months ago. If they wanted to go to war, he better bring the heat because Adrian was more focused than he had ever been in his career. But that was neither here nor there. He didn't care. Right now? He was just going to kick back and relax. Adrian exhaled his smoke out of the side of his mouth and said...~

"We'll see. We'll see."

~Adrian looked back at Mikki and shook his head. He knew what she meant about airports. The United States have been paranoid for years with all the terrorism going on in the world. He understood the need for security. There were dangerous people out there. They were right here on their own soil. Hell, even right here, in this casino, at this bar, puffing on a cigarette and drinking Hennessy. Dangerous people. But some of those security guards can get a little too excited when frisking people.~

"Unfortunately, that's a lose-lose situation. You don't do something, they feel up on you. You do go ahead and do something, they label you as a threat. There's no winning that battle. It sucks, but that's just the way it is. As for what I've been up to, just getting back into the swing of things. Getting back into the squared circle and cracking some skulls. Had some highs. Had some lows. But we'll see what hand I get deal while I'm here. What about you, Mikki? What have you been up to lately?"

[Mikki Wilson]

-Slowly taking another sip of her drink, Mikki shrugs her shoulders and responds.-

" Not really all that much, I mean since I left APW I have just been staying out of the public eye and trying to live a normal life. I got the itch again though and decided it was the right time to come back. "

[Zhafaria Rouge]

Zhafaria: Well, I'm glad I was able to sign you, both of you. I look forward to having you in my company.

Taking another sip of irish whiskey, she gulps before pointing at Mikki and responding.

Zhafaria: Well, I've been busy lately. Signing contracts, meeting new talent, getting ready for our premiere next week. Y'know, boss lady stuff.

She takes another swig of Absolut while waiting for one of them to talk.

[Adrian Taylor]

"Yeah. Staying out of the public eye is difficult. You can't just drive down to the nearest Wal-Mart without someone recognizing. It's even more difficult when you walk past the toy aisle or the kid's clothing section. Parents and kids stand there like, 'Oh my god! It's you! You're that person! From that show I like!' Ugh..."

~Adrian shook his head after imitating a child's voice. The life of a famous professional wrestler was a difficult one to live. Sure. When he had a little more patience, it was fine. Sign a couple of autographs, take a few photos, and continue about his business. It was how make that day special for that fan. But honestly? He just wanted to go to the store and pick up whatever he went there for. He didn't want to be held up or bothered every time he left the house. Adrian couldn't even go to the bathroom without some jackass standing in the next stall or waiting outside the toilet. Some fans were just obsessed like that. Adrian looked over to the boss and said...~

"You just wait, boss. You thought Philly was something? You ain't seen nothin' yet."