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 Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2025 6:47 pm
[The following takes place backstage after Wrestlemania.]
In his dressing room, Salem was trying to get as comfortable as he could in a recliner as Kyra danced around in a joyous display, celebrating her father's win. Behind her, great-aunt Ramona was watching Salem more cautiously, noting the veneer of comfort he was putting on for his daughter. Tilting her head and narrowing her eyes at him, Salem caught on to her suggestive look.
"I'm fine, 'Mona. Really." he said, trying not to disturb his daughter by using a softer tone.
"You sure about that?" she replied in an equal cadence. "I know you went dizzy. What even happened out there?"
Salem lowered his eyes from Ramona towards his daughter, smiling softly at her eagerness and energy, her jovial attitude keeping him from digging himself into a hole on a night he should be happy.
"To be honest...I have no clue. I don't know what just happened. Between Rex and Cart-"
All three occupants of the room froze up as a sudden heavy knock was heard at the door, Ramona getting up and signaling with her eyes to Salem, who was already calling Kyra over to his side.
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Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2025 7:43 pm
Ramona walked to the door and opened it. On the other side was Rex in his suit, hands clasped behind his back. He stepped into the locker room while Ramona backed up a couple steps, raising her fists, ready to fight if need be. Her throat tightened at the sight of him, remembering how he had crushed it. "Good to see you as well, sister," Rex said. He looked to Salem and smiled. "Salem, I know you have questions. So allow me to answer it simply. After our match, I communed with The Serpent who reminded me that you, Kyra, dear Ramona, are all family and there is nothing greater."
He looked to Ramona who was still preparing for violence. "So thus, when you were to be felled by giant and miscreant, The Serpent urged me to intervene. Saving your health and maybe also bringing Cartwright's soul to the light as well."
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Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2025 7:49 pm
Ramona was apprehensive at Rex's sudden arrival, Kyra was anxious, holding her daddy's arm, who himself was sternly surveying Kobra's every move. As skeptical as he was, Salem didn't sense any hostility, and eased a hand onto his daughter's shoulder to calm her nerves before he spoke.
"Little hard taking your words at face value, 'Dad'. This "Serpent" of yours, it's had you doing some pretty dirty things. Wasn't less than a month ago you were trying to choke me out. What's this really about? Why should we trust you? You've hurt everyone in this room, one way or another."
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Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2025 8:04 pm
Rex smiled wider as he looked between Salem and Ramona. He stuffed his hands into his pockets, trying to make himself look more harmless. More of a target than a threat. His eyes bounced between them for a moment before he closed them and took in a breath as he mentally communed with The Serpent.
"You have no cause to trust me and all the cause to distrust my word. I dare not try to understand The Serpent's motives or desires, I am but a humble messenger. His prophet and will made manifest. And lo, The Serpent has told me to save you and thus bring Cartwright to the light. The Serpent also has promised that yet another will find their way to the light and The Scales of Family will find themselves whole."
Rex shrugged.
"The Serpent led me to Cartwright. Hardened my heart like the Pharaoh of old so that the match at Mania could occur as it had. You need not believe in The Serpent, Brother Salem, for The Serpent to believe in you."
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Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2025 2:06 pm
Salem listened to Rex, waiting for him to finish speaking before he turned to smile at Kyra and Ramona.
"Kyra, how about you go to the bathroom with Aunt Mona and try on some makeup?" he asked the child, giving Ramona a look that said he wanted the ladies to leave the room. Obliging, Ramona nodded back and gently took the excited girl's hand, leading her away from her father and grandfather to enter the bathroom and shut the door.
Salem stood up out of his chair, visibly sore but standing firm in front of Rex.
"Let me tell you what I believe, Rex...I believe we used to be very good friends. I believe circumstances made us into family, and that for a good, long while, you've treated that family very selfishly. I believe I don't give a damn what this "serpent" tells you, because you've abused your sister, attacked me, tried to kidnap my goddamn daughter more than once. But what you better believe, is that if you hurt any of us again, I'll strike you down so hard and fast that you won't have time to feel the venom. So when that bathroom door opens, we're gonna be respectable men who take care of our kin, because anything less isn't going to work for me. We clear on that?" Salem asked, extending a hand to Rex as he looked sternly into Rex's eyes.
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Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2025 2:30 pm
Rex looked to the hand then the bathroom door. Finally he looked to the ceiling and took in a deep breath. With a nod, he reached out and shook Salem's hand, looking him directly in the eyes.
"Respectable men," Rex said. "Who take care of their kin."
Rex released the hand and then clasped his hands behind his back again as he turned to look at the door. The Serpent had promised another and Rex felt in hos bones that soon whoever it was would make themselves known. He had shaken Salem's hand, followed the orders of his deity and made peace. now all he had to do was to see what else would come to pass.
"Trust, Brother Salem, that this is a new era. The Scales shall rise to do battle with darkness, enemies united by familial bonds to cleanse the locker room of wickedness. Trust, Brother Salem, for The Serpent's will shall be done."
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Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2025 2:37 pm
A woman in white hoodie and purple headphones, star insignia on ear cup, stepped into the doorway and timorously peeking into the room through her dark hair.
Her black lips tight in tense reservation, hands half buried into her front pouch, thumbs anxiously picking at the threads. "Hey.." She whispered in a peep.
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Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2025 2:46 pm
Salem shook Rex's hand, nodding slightly as to signal he'd take him at his word, understanding passing between the two men. At this time, though, the door cracked open as an unfamiliar sight stepped into the dressing room - Emiko, Salem's one-time lover and Kyra's mother, meekly addressing him and her father.
Like a roller coaster, Salem was thrown for another loop, unsure what to think. Last he'd seen Emiko, she was signing custody of Kyra over to him, pursuing goals with Luca and Mirage and Cyrus, and he'd lost touch after that. It'd been over a year since he'd seen her, longer still in such a condition.
But before he could open his mouth to speak, the bathroom door opened first, Kyra excitedly coming out with Ramona in tow, a fresh blend of makeup on her face. Seeing Emiko in the door, the seven-year-old paused.
"M...Mom?"
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Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2025 4:20 pm
A gasp took Emiko's breath at sight of her child and a tremor in her chin.. "Princess..." Emiko's voice wavered in greeting to her separated daughter.
She shifted her sight to face Salem. "Pl-please..." Emiko's plea cracking under the strain of heavy emotion, to reunite with her dear baby.
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Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2025 4:37 pm
Rex extended his arms to his sides as he saw Emiko before turning to face Salem. The smile on his face shifted into the wide beaming smile of being right. He started backing toward the door.
"And lo, another shall join the light once Cobra and Copperhead rejoin, and thus The Scales shall band together and bring the light of righteousness to the darkness. So sayeth The Serpent."
Rex paused at the doorway and extended a hand toward Ramona.
"Shall you join me, Sister Ramona, and let these three have their moment?"
Ramona opened her mouth to speak but something about Rex standing there with his preacher's grin and speaking words of The Serpent caused her throat to tighten and words to fail her. She shook her head and Rex gave a nod.
"As you wish."
Rex then turned and walked out of the room. Ramona hurried over, making sure that he was gone before leaning against the wall and taking in several breaths to clear herself of the fear that he had instilled before looking to the other three and finding hope in their reunion.
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Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2025 4:43 pm
Salem watched Rex depart, still in a bit of shock at Emiko's sudden arrival, but sensing like a snake the vibrations in the air, understanding her feelings. Ramona stood by, watching from the doorway, perhaps wanting a bit of closure herself, but it was Kyra that Salem turned his attention to, looking over and gesturing with his chin towards Emiko.
"Well? Whatcha waiting for?" he grinned, winking at Kyra as she bolted to hug her mom.
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Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2025 5:02 pm
Tears of joy spilt down Emiko's cheeks, as she dropped to her knees in crouch, arms open and reaching.
Kyra's little body crashing into Emiko's, she wrapped around her tightly in embrace, finally breaking in a sob.
"I missed you so, so much... I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..." Emiko pecked Kyra's black curly haired head several times over, in apologies.
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Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2025 5:27 pm
Ramona looked on at the reunion between Kyra and Emiko. Her niece and grand-niece together again. The scene was enough to bring a tear to her eye. She looked away, wiping it away, trying to keep up her tough rebel image. She looked up to Salem and then over her shoulder to the hallway, thinking of what her brother said, worrying slightly at how right he was...
But as she looked to Kyra and Emiko once more, she didn't mind as much. The family was together again and that was all that mattered.
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Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2025 5:32 pm
Salem admired his daughter getting to embrace her mother again, smiling and sitting back down where he had been as he caught eyes with Ramona and nodded, understanding the emotions behind her eyes.
Salem called for Kyra, looking over at Emiko, his tone friendly but his eyes inquisitive, maybe even slightly suspicious.
"So, what's up, Emi?"
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Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2025 5:54 pm
Emiko stiffened a bit, being reminded of his presence, she looked back up at him. "Uhm..." Slowly rising with Kyra in arms and took tentative steps towards him.
"I... know we kinda, ended on a bad note... before." Admitting her fault, seeing the distrust in his eyes. "I've been... away. And just got back. It gave me time to think."
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