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Lacklan · (04-14-2022)

"...but then I have to OMTC IS THAT DOLLY? HI, DOLLY! I LOV-"

CLICK!

Sarah Lacklan snaps her phone shut before Kenzi's chocolate brown eyes could physically turn into anime hearts amidst her frantic waving. Thankfully, the object of her sudden adoration, Dolly Waters, hadn't noticed. With her eyes shut and her head leaning back against the booth, she slight girl was in her own world. Sarah did her best to kick down that sting of jealousy for her mate's affection for the woman who had been, at least for a time, "the best personal assistant EVER," but she was only partly successful. But Dolly's ability to worm her way into the grand graces of both members of the Grey-Lacklan was such a rare feat that she could hardly blame the child.

"You did great out there, Dolly. Legit proud."

Dolly brought her hand up, gestured her fingers like a gun, and pantomimed a cock-and-pull of the trigger.

"Boom."

But still kept her eyes shut. Sarah knew she was in a lot of pain, and could empathize with her in a way most couldn't. Sarah had suffered an injury to her legs which had put her on the disabled list and out of competition years prior, so she knew exactly what Dolly was going through. The pain was likely as much in her head as it was in her leg. And that scar! Gained nearly a year ago at Leap of Faith, a night which saw Sarah herself make the entire industry pause as she first won the eponymous rafter match and then later cash in to win the Universal Championship, it also saw Dolly Waters end up laying in a pool of her own blood. And now, with nearly every excursion in the ring, she opened the wound again and again. Sarah's own fine needlework had sewn up the gash just an hour before, wherein she made sure to provide more care and grace than any XWF medical staffer could or would.

"We're anti-gun, Kiddo."

Dolly opens an eye to look at Sarah...and then rolls it.

"I'm from Kentucky, Boss."

Sarah rolls her eye in return.

"What Kentuckian doesn't like horses? Especially a prized pure bred Friesian like my beautiful Fireheart?!"

Sarah's eyes turn out the window to see that prized horse tied outside. While Vita's reaction to riding her Sweetest Sixteen Birthday present from all those years ago had been filled with trepidation, Dolly's was worse! Her eyes had narrowed not in worried caution as with Vita, but with a measure of disgust.

"The Derby is cruel."

"What?!"

"And meaningless! Just a buncha rich weirdos pattin' themselves on the back about how rich and weird they are."

Sarah...well known for being a rich weirdo...feels her eyes widen to the point where the light in the room began to hurt.

"But the HATS, Dolly! The amazing HATS have MEANING!"

Dolly stares at Sarah...and that massive and borderline ridiculous hat atop her head...with a flatness Roxy Cotton's world view would be jealous of.

"I prefer 'Kentuckers,' anyway."

Sarah's eyes transition from their wide state into yet another droll eye-roll and then down into a mischievous slit.

"Speaking of meaning, you ready to talk about Cor-"

"NOPE!"

Now using both hands as guns, Dolly points them at both of her temples, and pantomimes a pincered shot to the brain. She shuts her eyes and puts her head back against the seat again. Sarah takes her narrowed gaze to the side and nearly pouts.

"No one wants to talk about their poor decisions. It's like he's Bruno, or something!"

She shakes her head and let's her gaze take in the rest of the restaurant. The Yard was a milkshake restaurant just a quick horse ride from Centennial Park, the location for the evening's matches, and was filled with the wild assortment of patrons one would expect in a late-night crowd. If a broken and sliced up wrestler accompanied by her immaculately dressed brand commissioner were normally attention-getting, no one seemed to notice on this night.

"Such rabble. A salt which needs a good scrub."

She looks away from them and back to Dolly.

"You are going to be so good at this. I just need you to focus."

There was heat in that word. Focus. A heat which made Vita Valenteen pause and look anew at the rival embracing her. A heat which made her sister Angelica turn away...if for but a moment...from her kitties. And a heat which makes Dolly Waters again open her eyes.

"'Sup?"

Sarah gestures at the various groups of people around them.

"See these people?" We...are better...than them. But we must focus on what we want, Kiddo."

She looks back at Dolly, and she can feel the fire in her eyes that she knows must shine like a furnace, magnified under her glasses.

"Focus and we can shine a light on them so bright that-"

"Here we go!"

Sarah is cut off as their waitress plops down a tray between them. A woman in her middle years with heavy makeup and her dark hair curled into a 50's pinup...Sarah didn't care for the fashion overall, but still thought it worked nicely for the woman...their waitress gave them a big smile.

"Rainbow sherbet for you-"

Sarah barely controlled her grimace as the bowl of multi-colored sugar ice was placed in front of a delighted Dolly.

"-and...er...the Lacklan Special for you."

Sarah's near-grimace turns up into her trademarked Billion $$$ Smile. Some years ago, she had been in the area for what turned out to be one of the highlights of her career, wherein she won her first World Championship, and stayed for a few days to celebrate and let it soak in. While here, she had made sure...very sure...that the restaurants in the area would be prepared to service her tastes and palette forevermore. And for the desert venues, that meant the softest Angelfood cake stuffed with sweetened strawberries and lathered with clotted cream. Dolly digs in before the waitress even gathered up her tray, which brings a smug twinge to Sarah's wide smile.

In order to change the future, all you must do is change the young.

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