Def Ears, Listen Up (For RedShinigami)

[GolemGuardian]

Chris would be lying if she said she wasn't enjoying this a little. Having Veronika be on the backpedal with her. But she wasn't taking joy in it. No matter what, the girl did come to make amends with her. Only a heartless bitch, like a certain Canadian and her girlfriend, or a certain bitch-weight champion, would squeeze the apologizer for all they were worth. So given she was neither of them, she'd need to improve her social skills and make things a little better.

George soon came with their drinks as Veronika looked at the menu. And when offered to drink with them, the horny Englishman refused and then, after accepting Veronika's offer to drink with them, asked if they wanted to work as his waitresses. Veronika refused, of course, and soon the quesion was turned to the rock star. "I'll also have to refuse. Juggling three careers is a bit too much. Besides, I'd hate to see what your uniform for a waitress would be." It was more a playful jab, but she honestly wouldn't want to see whatever his idea for a uniform would be.

Soon after the blond gave her a full glass, filled with the delicious drink known as whiskey. "Cheers!" She raised her own glass, and tapped it against her rival's before taking a drink. Her own cheeks darkened, as she got more drunk by the minute.

It was actually a bit nice, drunk Veronika's company. The air around her was so much better than the pretentious air of the bitch she'd met so many times. Maybe if they actually buried this hatchet, they could hang out like this more. And maybe if they had met under different circumstances the two could maybe have had a lot of fun together. It was unlikely, given how they met, but it was the only thing the rocker could think on as she drank her whiskey. Or rather, the only thing she could think on. She wanted this over and done with as much as Veronika, after all.

"What if we just start over?" The rocker would suggest. "We can't just pretend we didn't hurt each other, but... maybe we should just move on? That's about the only way one moves on from hate and pain, after all." She let out a sigh and closed her eyes, thinking to the fire she had seen so young The ruined, orchestral halls. The roaring in her ears as she cried out for her parents. "Acceptance, and moving on. That's how the always said healing has to start..."

[RedShinigami]

To speak the truth bluntly. Veronika Noir was'nt half that bad as she presented herself.
True she was an egotistical, brutal asshole, but there was another side to The Queen of Hearts too, a loving, caring one, that could easily outweigh her more devious side.

Sadly, her devious side was what she showed in the ring, as it was part of her performance and her character.
And she had gone too far with Chris Yukine, much too far.
But how could she say sorry when she almost broke her legs?
And when Chris broke her arm, which had traumatized her...where to start?
Where to start indeed..and so Veronika drank...and drank to come up with other things.

"Say...", she said now with a bright red tone over her nose.
"uhm...you a really pretty voice you know that?", she said and tried to break the ice with compliments...that she acutally meant.
"I am sorry for talking you down...it is true, you have a wonderful, wonderful, wonderfuuuul voice...", she said and grinned.
"It fits your pretty face, Chris.", she chuckled and for the first time as Veronika said Chris in any variation it sounded not sarcastic, or bored or hateful but...generous.

[GolemGuardian]

Chris could tell Veronika was trying. Granted it was a drunk Veronika rather than the one she had met in the ring, but all intoxication meant was less mental restrictions. So she did feel remorse, and the rocker should forgive her.

But after all that went on between them in the ring and in the blond's talk show, forgiveness wasn't something so easy to just hand out. And the Japanese-American expected the same treatment, given she had broken and likely traumatized her rival. There wasn't a lot of room to start.

And then she saw the Franco-Austrian just CHUG her glass down. Chris went wide eyed at how much she just saw go down in one drink. And then the sudden compliment and apology again caught her off guard, especially when Veronika called her face 'pretty' and laugh oh so genuinely. It... Oh boy was that making her blush hard. She couldn't help but sit there stammering for a few seconds before she grabbed her own drink to glug down, mostly to hide said blush.

"A-ah.. u-uu-umm... Th-th-than-ksss...." And not knowing how to deal, she just stayed like that. Boy were those two probably having a laugh at her embarrassment right now.

[RedShinigami]

Veronika and George started to laugh as the "all so tough" Rockstar went beetred and stumbled around a simple "Thank you"

Veronika grinned and continued her onslaught.
"Would you look at that, little Miss Rockstar blushes, how cute.", she grinned and downed another glass, the bottle was emptying fast as all three were filled up, except George who had a much higher tolerance for alcohol given his profession.

"I 'hink i can chip 'he ladies alone nah wi'hou' 'earin in'o each o'her?", he laughed and took the empty glasses and bottle with him as the two eternal rivals sat across each other.
Veronika looked in Chris eyes and spoke.
"My arm hurts when I lay on it...", she said suddenly.
"I...I just...I mean..."

Maman, I hurt my leg. What did you do Veronika Noir? I swear...No,I tripped and fell down the stairs...look its bleeding! And that is your excuse for not doing training today? No...I wanted to, really Maman but my knee hurts so much. Listen, I don't care what you did you clumsy little brat, wipe that blood away and dance! But Maman...Are you talking back to me? No, Maman! Do you want to sleep at the Attic again? No, Maman! Please no! Then wipe away that disgusting stuff and start your training! Oui, Oui Maman! Veronika, come here. Yes Maman...
Stop crying you filthy little beast! Ow! You idiotic little shithead, your body is the only thing that makes you worthwhile, so keep good care about it! I will, I will, please let go, it hurts...
Pathetic little brat. I should have...


Veronika snapped out of it.
"It's, It's ok. My arm is ok.", she said and looked to the side.
"It healed...some other things did'nt..."

[GolemGuardian]

"Sh-shut up.." Chris muttered out as George left them be, apparently having joined them just to ensure they wouldn't tear them limb from limb. The rocker could guess that wouldn't be the case if they were doing one of his 'wrestling matches,' if they could really be called that.

She took another drink from her glass, her blush remaining as she felt the booze take its affects further. She dared look back over, half expecting another flirtatious-sounding comment. And instead what she heard made her gut drop. The Franco-Austrian's comment reminded her of why they were meeting at all, and the regret she had been feeling ever since. And her attempt to backtrack the comment only made her feel that much worse.

Chris took another sip of liquid courage, and gathered her wits. "You don't have to retract that for me. I know I went way to far. You don't have to try and spare me of the guilt. I'm so, so sorry for going as far as I had..." She didn't know what Veronika meant by 'some other things didn't heal,' and decided not to broach that comment. Maybe her eternal rival'd say something about it, or maybe she'd ask later. But for now it just seemed too weird to ask about.

So for now, she'd just take another awkward drink.

[RedShinigami]

Veronika looked in the regretful eyes of Chris. Beautiful, soulful eyes, that had nothing but hate and distain in it when they had their feud, especially in their last encounter where they... Well what wanted they? Kill each other?
Veronikas eyes must have had the same kook. Of hate and she saw her pink orbs reflected in the whiskey.

"I don't hate you.", she said slowly.
"Believe me, I dont. It is just so hard for me to... To..."
Tears flew down her cheeks.
.. to lose. I can't lose... I am not allowed to lose... Winning is my only purpose, If I am not the best in what I do i am worthless and better have never existed... ", she said, her voice breaking with each word.

Veronika Noirs mother had created a human being without any love for herself. She had to be pretty and win, did'nt matter how or whom she hurt, she was only worthy when she won.

[GolemGuardian]

OK, that made Chris want to slap Veronika. Nit for her saying something insulting or anything, but rather because of how bullshit that sounded. Not being allowed to lose? Having to win or else she'd better not exist? She wanted to slap those horrible, resulting thoughts out of her head. Chris' uncle hadn't been exactly a parental figure when he took her in, but when he suggested she get into wrestling he never put her down like that.

Heck, it got her so pissed she forgot about the awkwardness and embarrassment she felt. "Who the fuck says that?" Chris said in her buzzed stupor, unsure exactly how slurred her words may have been. "People are gonna fail, or even have a fucking bad start. I don't know who the fuck said that to you, but they sound like someone who deserves only the worst. A cup of water from the dead sea and heavily salted chips and bread for every meal for 5 years." ....OK, that sounded a bit meaner in her head than it sounded silly aloud. But hopefully Veronika could understand the passion Chris felt about that. Heck, Chris would even lean over and pat her rival's shoulder since it was the best she could do from where she was. "You may be a bit of a bitch, but no one deserves to be called worthless."

[RedShinigami]

"Would you please stop calling me a bitsch...you shihihthead...", Veronika slurred and shook her head.
Why where there three Chrisses? One was trouble enough.
"I...I don't care if you are three...I still kick all of your ..b...b...pffff..."
Suddenly the Dancer began to laugh and fell down on the table, slapping the wood, getting stuck in a laughing fit.
"Ahahaha...imagine...imagine...three of you...that would mean...you would have to share that horrible jacket...", she laughed and laughed and could'nt control herself anymore.

When she had she really laughed that loud and with this joy?
Yes...when? She could'nt remember...
Had she ever...laughed that way? Maybe when her mother was'nt around who had told her that Ladies did'nt laugh that loud and slapped her when she even giggled?
Suddenly Veronikas laughter proceeded to become softer and instead went over into whimperings as her eyes started to fill with tears...a reaction many people had on too much alcohol...especially when sudden emotions and memories started to show up again when the brain was at dizzy and vulnerable from too much booze in its system like now...

"I am sorry...", she whimpered and sniffed.
"I am so sorry...sorry..."
The proud , selfassured Veronika Noir had shown a side to her rival that no one had ever seen...she was hurt..probably worse and deeper then she herself knew and all she could do was staring into space while on the table and beg for forgiveness...to whom?
That, no one could tell..

[GolemGuardian]

"OK, so I guess that means were not at a stage where we can insult people jokingly... Sorry," Chris apologiezed, her blush intensifying both from the alcohol and the embarrassment. She was trying to be a bit uplifting, and instead it more than likely only pushed the wedge further between them. That's what happens when you're getting drunk, your inhibitions lower and you end up a bit of an ass.

But at least Veronika seemed to change her tone quickly, giving another joyous laugh. It was still a little cute, even if she didn't appreciate the comment about the jacket being shared with three of her. "I still assert this jacket is badass, Ms. Pasties-Are-Enough-Covering. Hmph." But soon another 180 occured. Her laughter died down, transitioning to whimpers and then crying. She apologized and asked for forgiveness from... Chirs? No, that didn't sound right. The apologies were done there, right? So what was going on?

Attention was sent their way once more, the fans that remained in the bar still staring in some disbelief, maybe a drop or two of pity, at the bawling burlesque dancer. "H-hey," she gently said, leaning forward and putting a comforting hand on her rival's tanned shoulder. "It's OK. You don't need to keep apologizing, or start apologizing for having fun." Hopefully that sounded as reassuring as she thought it did.

[RedShinigami]

Veronika seemed generally hurt but not because of any of Chris comments...there was another thing, making her look out into the distance while she apologized to an unseen person, again and again.
The patrons, most fans of Chris shook their head and could'nt understand why Chris even tried to share a glass with that bitch.
And they made themselves audible about it.
"Can you get that? Almost breaks her legs and she still sits there with her."
"Hah, maybe it is like they all say, wrestling is fake after all, maybe they are the best of friends."
"Hahaha, maybe they fuck each other, I mean you saw the stuff, at some points it seemed that our Chris liked it a bit."
"Slut Alarm, Slut Alarm..."
It was, what it was, people were people and people were pigs, not giving a shit about the feelings of their "Idols" when they not stopped
entertaining them.
Veronika sniffed and looked up.
"You did'nt say that..."
"What?", the guy said as Veronika Noir grabbed for him.
"You did'nt call this woman a slut now, have'nt you?"
"What? Whats it to ya, you crazy bitch?"
"Too me? Nobody, absolutely nobody calls that girl a slut, bitch, bimbo or cumbucket EXCEPT ME!", she said and gave Chris a crooked smile before shoving the guy away.
"Watch your mouth the next time...we are wrestlers and symbols of beauty and strength...and you are just a skinny, moonface who lives in his Mom's basement ,so shut up and piss off!", she said and they guy grunted but decided to better dissapear in the crowd as Veronika looked back to Chris, wiping her tears.
"I...I...I did'nt meant that like that...it is just...only I am allowed to step on your nerves...", she said and suddenly a smile crept over her face.