Unofficial...

[Referee Trystan Lloyd]

It was early afternoon and after a brief meeting at GZW HQ in Atlanta, he was glad to be in the back of the taxi with someone else driving him around. It had been hectic. In just a few short days he managed to cram in visits to different states across the country, keep business ticking over at the Vicious Circle and found the time to play father of the year. Now? Now he could take his time as he wasn't due to be booked in to his room in Texas for a few days yet. Head back and to the side, he let the world pass him in a blur as the taxi took to the motorway, almost allowing it to lull him to sleep.

Driver: You okay there, buddy?

Trystan: I'm fine, sir. Just taking my moments where I can. Thank you though.

He gets a nod and then continues to stare out of the window. Blur as it was, he still knew where he was with how often he'd been this route over the years as both a wrestler and a referee and it's not long before he perks up a bit.

Trystan: Could we stop after the next left?

Driver: You mean this one now?

Trystan: The very one, yes.

Obliging the former Canadian champion, the driver pulls up to a large house that was infamous to the wrestling world yet no one really went to unless they were family. With the vehicle at a halt, he opens the door and steps out, turning to lean towards the driver's window that whirs as it opens.

Trystan: Do you mind waiting a moment? I won't be long.

Another nod, and Trystan thanks him inaudibly with a smile before he walks the path to the house and knocks on the door. After a few brief moments it’s pulled open, though entry is blocked by a small shape. Hazel eyes stared up through the curls that had managed to fall of his messy bun. Pushing them away from his face he eventually smiles. His skateboard was still under his right foot, he moves it with him as he moves back to allow entry.

Daniel: Eeeeeeeeeva! Doooooooor!

The raven haired beauty appeared almost instantly, her heels echoing through the hallway with her footsteps. From somewhere down the hall Lucy could be heard reading to her siblings. They joined in with some of the verses, a rhyming story they’d clearly heard before. At the sight of his aunt Daniel skates off, his grin making it abundantly clear he knew he was breaking rules. She’d clocked him alright, and she’d make a point of speaking to him later. An apologetic smile comes almost naturally to her, probably through years of being with her less than subtle husband. Still, her expression lightens instantly at the sight of the man.

Eva: Trystan! How do, love?

Trystan: Eva. How are you? I was passing and thought...Um...if you're busy?

Stepping out of the way and ushering him at the same time she shook her head.

Eva: This is actually pretty quiet.

Trystan: Okay, if you're sure. I...give me a minute? I just need to sort out the taxi first. Had him waiting just in case.

Holding up a finger, he quickly dashes back to the vehicle and after a monetary exchange, he's back to the front door again as the taxi pulls away and leaves.

Trystan: Sorry about that.

Eva: No need to apologise love. Tea?

Not waiting for the answer to what wasn’t really a question, she leads the way to the kitchen. The kettle was already on by the time he’d got there.

Eva: So, how are you? How are things?

Trystan: I'm alright. Keeping busy. Always something to do. Just been to headquarters to meet with Davis and also got my schedule for Crimson while I was there.

He removes his leather gloves, slipping them in his coat pocket.

Eva: You know there is such a thing as down time?

Though a small part of her suspected that for him downtime meant paperwork. Something less physically demanding than throwing himself round a ring or bringing order to stroppy wrestling folk. Handing him a mug of tea she pulls herself up onto the counter. Something she quite regularly told her nephew and husband off for doing. Having taken it graciously from her, he sips from the mug immediately, sighing afterwards.

Trystan: Thank you, just what I needed. Funny how I never really bothered with tea until I met you though. And yes, down time. I don't really have the time for that.

Eva: Inspiring bad habits is a bit of a gift…. You don’t have time to relax?

Trystan: Oh I do. I do get to rest. In cars, on flights, hotel rooms for the night. It's not as if I don't get to sleep. Goodness, no.

Eva: That’s not the same thing and you know it. I mean, how do you unwind?

The whir of wheels over tile signalled that her nephew was back. Snatching an apple, an orange and a banana from the fruit bowl he rolls away just as quickly. Though she’d noticed, and they both knew she had. Her attention never wavered from Trystan. Watching the nine year old disappear, Trystan looks back at Eva.

Trystan: I...well, I...I might read a book?

Accepting this with a nod she took a sip of her tea. It wasn’t the right answer, but it was an answer at least. He moves his mug to his face, seemingly hiding behind it before he eventually takes another sip.

Trystan: I guess I just prefer to keep myself occupied. Keeps me on track.

Eva: On track maybe, but does it make you happy?

Trystan: I think so? I'm not miserable so maybe that means I'm happy.

Resting her mug in her lap she shakes her head.

Eva: I dunno……tottering on the same path just because its safe routine and you know it, isn’t always best. You’re missing out on everything off the track, good and bad. Speaking as someone who cares, I don’t think you’re happy…..I think you’re safe.

He nods, ingesting her words as he seems to loosen up his posture and rests against the sideboard.

Trystan: Is that a bad thing though? It's less painful and I know what to expect. Maybe there is nothing wrong with predictability and being cautious.

Eva: Of course it’s not a bad thing, but you can be too cautious.

Trystan: Maybe but look what happens when people aren't cautious, when they get reckless and lose control. I see it all the time. That's...it's not a place I want to be. People get hurt on many levels.

Eva: Getting hurt is all part and parcel of growing as a person.

Trystan: I've been there. No need to go there again.

Eva: And I’ve been where you are. Anything to keep busy, anything to stop you thinking too much…….You can’t stop because if you do, you realise how little you really have and how empty it all is. You’re about three bricks away from building a wall around yourself entirely.

He cracks a smile, acknowledgment that she'd rumbled him, maybe.

Trystan: Perhaps. I work hard for the control I do have in my life. Just to let anyone else step in change that seems like folly to me now, Eva. I am good at what I do, I make sure of that. People? That's another story. You poke your head out from the hole where you've yet to fill those bricks and you find that it's a waste of time. I know I'm not the easiest guy to get to know but I'm a good person. Sure I've done some questionable things in my time. Find me one person who hasn't but I can't do it. Every time I let my guard down or let someone in...it's never reciprocated. Not really.

Of course she knew where he was coming from. Everyone gets there at some point don’t they? You get hurt one too many times and decide enough is enough. Some people threw themselves into work, others brought a couple of cats, a comfy new pair of slippers and settled in for reruns of Keeping up appearances. Sliding off the counter with a click as her heels hit stone, she adjusts her skirt as she let her weight fall against the counter behind her. There was logic to his argument, she didn’t like it but there was.

Eva: Just…..don’t fill in those few bricks. You deserve to be happy, not complacent. It’s all too easy to let a couple of shitty experiences put you off people….

She still had her slippers somewhere, didn’t she? Where exactly had her head been when she met Leon? She wasn’t peering through the wall either, back then she was adding barbed wire and broken glass to the top of it. She didn’t even want to peer out.

Trystan: Some things just aren't meant to be. I accept that. I always accept that.

Eva: And now you’re just sounding defeatist. Seriously, don’t make me poke you. I may not pack the punch Leon does, but I will do it.

Trystan: I have no doubt you will. And I am not being defeatist, just a realist. I just don't want to embarrass myself again, looking for something that isn't there, fighting a losing battle. You fight for rights, titles, whatever but you should never have to fight for the affections of another.

Snorting into her drink it was clear she wasn’t touching that one. Sometimes it was easier not to.

Eva: Alright. I’ll save the lectures for the Tony Hawk wannabe. Sorry love.

Trystan: There is no need to apologise. I'd just like to think I've learnt from my mistakes.

Eva: Not mistakes, just experiences. I said I’d drop it though, so I will.

The penny drops for the man and he blushes a little.

Trystan: I'm sorry...

Smiling one of her few genuine smiles, she pushed her hair behind her ear as she watched him. Her eyes lit up mischievous and amused.

Eva: Did you just blush?

Trystan: What? No. It's...I'm warm. I still have my coat on and your home is particularly toastie!

She actually laughed, though it was good natured rather than mocking him. She was in a good mood, the doom and gloom of the last few weeks was leaving her slowly. But it was leaving, and that’s what mattered. Day by day she was more like her old self.

Eva: Well it was adorable.

Trystan: I don't do adorable. But it's good to see your spirits lifted, Eva. May I ask what's made it so?

Eva: Oh you totally do, then you do that flustered Hugh Grant thing to back peddle out of it. It’s cute.

They’d spent a lot of time together in recent years, enough so that the twins had adopted him as their favourite person to show off to and climb over. It was a safe bet that if they weren’t engrossed in story time with their big sister they’d be in here clambering over each other to show off.

Eva: I don’t know….It was getting dark for a while. I’d love to say talking to Leon helped, but he has as much subtlety as a wrecking ball. Finding out my neck wasn’t as injured as I thought put my mind at rest, so do the painkillers in that respect though. Still not mustered the courage to make good on my promise to go talk to someone, but I’m sure there’s a pill to fix that too. Whatever helps, right?

He gives her that "you know better than that" disapproving look. She counters with her “don’t even bother trying” shrug.

Trystan: Who were you supposed to talk to?

Eva: Some therapist or counsellor or some crap. I don’t know. You have half a lifetime of people insisting there’s something wrong with you, and maybe after a while you start to believe it. I had my fill of that shit as a kid. They can keep it now I’m big enough and scary enough to tell them to do one…….Literally. I don’t want to deal with things, and I feel no need to rattle the chains of old ghosts just so I can prove they exist and acknowledge them again.

Trystan: Is that what you'd advise someone in your situation?

Eva: Nope, but then I’m as much of a hypocrite as everyone else.

Trystan: I guess we all are at times. Still, sometimes it's a necessary evil to deal with things that otherwise hold you back, whether you realise it or not. At the same time, no one really knows your mind in the way you do either, no matter what pieces of paper people have been given to say they do.

Eva: I’m good for now. If things start looking grim again, I’ll reconsider.

Trystan: As long as you keep in tune with yourself, do what's right for you. The whole counselling thing doesn't work for everyone and in some cases just makes things worse. Then again, if you have a good counsellor opposite you, things can be different. Just don't ignore the signs or be afraid to reach out if it's needed.

Eva: You speaking from experience?

Trystan: From observation. I have my own way of dealing with things.

Eva: Fair enough….

He takes a large mouthful from his mug.

Trystan: I should probably tell you while I'm here, though you may want to avoid telling Leon. I'll be the referee for your match with Cross at Crimson.

Eva: Oh?

In the background the skateboard had returned, this time being pushed by Daniel and carrying Georgia. The little boy was making car noises, to the delight of his cousin. He opens the fridge, passing cartons of juice to his passenger, before backing out of the kitchen with beeps. Trystan watches, amused and even chuckling to himself before he turns back to the 2011 Lady of the Coliseum.

Trystan: Yes. I've been entrusted to this match but I just want you to know that it makes no difference to me, it'll be straight down the middle. I just...if the unthinkable happens, I just know Leon will likely put the loss down to my inadequacy and inability to officiate a match again.

Eva: Probably, followed closely by blaming me for letting it happen and finally Alex for cheating.

Her tone made it clear she wasn’t too concerned about her husband’s conspiracy theories.

Eva: I trust you to do your job.

Trystan: Thank you. I've tried my hardest to work my way up to becoming a respected member of my team and have done so by keeping to the rules.

Eva: I know love. In a way I’m glad it’s you. You won’t take any shit if anyone tries to get involved.

Trystan: You're expecting someone to get involved?

Eva: Always.

Trystan: Did you have someone specific in mind?

Eva: Nope……trust no one. There’s no unpleasant surprises that way.

She laughed, disarming her comment. He nods in agreement.

Trystan: Absolutely. You don't even need to be in the industry long to realise that one really. Though, I feel the one you can trust the least is the man that will be in front of you. I have no idea what has gotten into Alex but it's a shame. He's a nice guy really. Perhaps just proof of what the industry can do to people if they let it.

Eva: Hey, we’ve all been there. I know I certainly have. It’s sometimes easier to be the heel. I don’t think it’s the industry though. All it does is highlight our more undesirable traits and blow them up.

Trystan: To some degree. I just hope he sees reason before it's too late. No matter how big and bad you are, not everyone will take you lying down. I wonder if he's ready for that.

Eva: Doesn’t matter if he’s ready. He’s all but asking for it.

Trystan: How do you feel going up against him?

Eva: Nervous……though not because of him. He can shout and disrespect as much as he likes. He’s looking to make a point and taking out an Icon is a great way to do it. He doesn’t intimidate me though. He’s not gonna be a walk in the park……but he’s no Monarch. I just can’t afford to cock up again.

Trystan: But then, your headspace is better, there is less chance of that happening, right?

Shrugging her shoulders in a way that indicated “shit happens” she eventually smiles.

Eva: I’m going out there with everything I have. Realistically whether that is enough anymore….I don’t know. As much of a face as they try to make me, this ones not for them. It’s for me.

Trystan: Then do it for you. And have fun out there. Hard thing to say considering the circumstances but try and remember what you enjoyed about wrestling out there in front of all those people and just let it come naturally.

Eva: That’s the plan.

Trystan: Of plans, do you have any today or is it just you and the children. I don't hear Leon anywhere?

Eva: He’s out doing his ruler of the wasteland thing. Just me n’ the kids today.

Trystan rolls his eyes. He expected as much from the man he'd known for the best part of sixteen years and considering the lowest places he'd seen the Icon, it came as no surprise to see him grabbing the bull by the horns at every chance he got.

Trystan: Makes sense. Do you...need a hand or anything? I mean, I'm not saying you can't handle them or anything. I mean...well...I mean.

Rinsing her mug in the sink she turns back to face him with a smile.

Eva: Relax. Take your coat of and we’ll go see if there’s anything left of the living room.

Trystan: Alright!

He beams, setting his mug into the sink and removing his coat with some gusto. Far too excited at the prospect of lending a hand to looking after four children but maybe it was a novelty still as he didn't get to see his own little girl as much as he’d like. He knew the way round the house by now, even if he didn’t he could probably find the kids by the noise they were making. With a smile for him that made it clear he had no idea what he was getting into, or did and clearly savoured madness. Eva followed him into the living room.