07-24-2024, 09:10 PM
1 of 2
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Undisclosed Location
Los Angeles, CA
Evening of May 26th, 2024
“Hey, you look somewhat familiar, toots. Sure I haven’t seen you around here before?” The voice was old, hoarse. Another lost angel trying to either find a way out of their mortal coil, or a way to become fertilizer to create new life. His hair, face, and clothing were all the color of stained-in dirt and soot for the tracks nearby. Hadn’t had a shower in probably weeks at this point, his beard had grown out like he’d been a member of ZZ Top in a previous time. The teeth he had remaining were as dark as the rest of them. “Got a smoke on ya?”
“Hey, Jimmy, honestly I thought you…” Olive handed him a couple of cigarettes from her pack. She didn’t smoke anymore unless on very rare occasions, but she knew having cigarettes and a stash of alcohol on her would help her get information, or at least, it’d keep her from getting mugged. Olive sat down beside the old man and lit his cigarette for him. “Where’d the Church go?”
“Fuckers raided it in 2021, then the city leveled it. Said it was unfit. Like this is?” Jimmy raised his arms and turned around in place showing off the surroundings. “Then the system cut my bennies. Then the heat came. Some of them didn’t make it. Cooked dead right on the sidewalks.”
Jimmy gets up and motions Olive to follow him. They walk along a trail to an abandoned rail building in the shadow of a newer modern one. “This is the new Church. City struck a deal with Amtrak to convert this building to a shelter of sorts.”
“Good, that will help them, but when are you coming back with me to Jersey?”
Jimmy sits down on the porch of the building, his shoulders slumped. “Liv, you know I can’t do that. That ship sailed long ago.”
“Says you. She misses you, but she doesn’t know that we know each other. I didn’t even know she was your kid until she was telling me about you. She needs you.”
Jimmy shakes his head. “Nah, she don’t. And if she’s around you, she’s already better off. Besides, she knows where to find me.”
“Actually, she doesn’t… fuck, this really shouldn’t be coming from me… but even if she did, she wouldn’t be able to communicate. I know you can’t read anymore with your eyes gone to shit, Jimmy. And Julia can’t speak.” Olive places her hand on Jimmy’s. “Ex tried to slash her throat. She fought back enough to escape. Last I’ve heard, he’s somewhere here in LA.”
“Julia, she… she’s special. Girl had a beautiful voice on her, could sing anything from Ella to Madonna, but she was bullied a lot. Our whole family was. You knew the shit I did, I paid my debt to society but society hasn’t let me back in yet. Marjorie’s long gone, left me when I was behind bars. And Julia, well, all she’s really ever heard of me was shit that Margie’s told her. Might have met her a half-dozen times in her life? But I still have that vinyl of hers. Hang on.”
Jimmy walks into the shelter and after a few minutes, he comes out holding a small vinyl record in a paper sheet.
“Here, take it back to Jersey with you, and play it. Anything you’ve always wondered about Julia can be found in her voice.”
Doves Compound
New Egypt, NJ
July 24th, 2024
We find ourselves inside a rather large log cabin. On the walls is a flag of the Devil’s Dove patch, a raven with red horns and the Shieldmaidens shield on its back, symbolizing their charter status with the Shieldmaidens, despite the difference in name. Photos on the wall of the different couples and families within the group. On another wall is a large poster of the group in front of the Krigarakademin, along with pictures of the girls and women who are both in the program, and graduated. As the private part of the Dove meeting ends, Sykobitty puts her hand up to get everyone’s attention.
“I know we don’t do this very often, having cameras in here or really at all, but I wanted to talk about a few things while we were all here and I have no issues having this get out on the internet or what have you. As you all know, what started as me going after one person in NFW, has devolved into a war with the Wolves of Odinn. Personally, I don’t think anyone in this room is going to back down from a challenge, but I wanted to use the cameras to make this clear again because I think the Wolves have a little too much fur in their ears, or nothing between them, so I have to repeat myself yet again.”
Sykobitty stands up and faces the camera.
“The Devil’s Doves collectively have no beef with you. The only thing I want is to get MY Silver Mountain championship back from Priscilla White who currently holds it. I never lost it fairly years ago, and I plan to rectify that problem by whatever means necessary. If you continue to persist in involving yourselves in business that does not concern you, I will have no choice but to return the favor in kind. We will throw hands with anyone irresponsible enough to get involved in affairs you have no business involving yourself in. Yes, I have said some things in the past that got under your craw. Guess what? Knowledge has a way of changing one’s opinion, and I have not only apologized for those comments, but have even spoken to people pertinent to the situation. If you guys weren’t aware, obviously you weren’t pertinent. This will be the last time I discuss this. The next infraction from you will be considered a call to arms, and we will eradicate the issue by whatever means necessary. Thank you.”
Sykobitty sits back down and all the Doves pound the table in approval. As Sykobitty was about to bring up the next topic of discussion, one of the Doves at the table raises their hands. The woman was rather thick, with half her head shaved and gothic makeup on her face. One of Bitty’s favorite loose cannons in the group.
“Maneater, the table’s yours.”
Maneater stood up, and as she spoke, she started to approach Bitty with a bit of aggression in her stride and tone. “Well, with yous wrestlin’ and all, when are wes gettin’ the band back together?”
Before Maneater could get too close to Bitty, a slightly-taller brunette than Maneater stood up and put herself between Maneater and Bitty. “Chaz, you know damned well we’re going to be needed soon. Asking like this ain’t going to help your cause, right?”
Bitty stood up, and stepped in front of Zombie, getting nose to tits with the taller Maneater. “Zombie’s right. I’ve got a little something planned for as soon as Tuesday that we’ll discuss later. Right now, I have other pressing matters.”
“Like that four-way where only two of yous deserve to be there?”
“Yeah, actually. I’m still trying to wrap my head around how Evans and Adams earned their opportunity, but I digress. Alright, meeting’s over. I have to finish up a couple of things here but we have that summer BBQ at the Academy so we need all hands on deck.”
As the Doves all leave, Sykobitty slips into a side office where an old-style Technics sound system from the 1980s sat. Bitty sees a note on the system. ‘All pieces work. Let me know if you need anything. -Topino’. Bitty pulls out the 45 and places it on the turntable and drops the needle onto it. It begins with a young girl chuckling into the microphone and a man in the background coaching her. Bitty can tell the man’s voice was a younger Jimmy. As the girl starts to sing, Bitty smiles and closes her eyes…
…not realizing Sully, aka Julia Hammett, the mute girl who is Bitty’s assistant, is standing in the doorway with tears in her eyes. The record stops abruptly and Bitty opens her eyes to a very upset Sully, texting like crazy.
‘Where did you find this?!’
Bitty looks around the room, and realizes there's no chairs in the room. She motions to Sully to sit on the floor with her as Bitty goes through her photos on her phone. She shows Sully a picture of Bitty and Jimmy back in 2018, both obviously under some sort of influence, and then a recent photo from a couple of months prior.
“Jules, listen. The day you told me a bit of your life story, I started to do some research and I know your father, Jimmy. He’s still alive but in bad shape. He’s homeless in Los Angeles and he’s too stubborn to come here. So he gave me the 45. Honey, your voice is amazing!”
Sully sits and Bitty hugs Sully’s much-larger frame.
‘I'm not surprised. He was very transient when I was younger, but the times he was around, I enjoyed every minute of them. He was not the way my mother described him.’
“Jimmy’s eyesight’s going so he’s not going to be able to read what you write, but we’ll do something. You’re coming with me to get him.”
‘No. We will help him there, but I do want to see him.’
“Monday, we’ll go, okay? I promise.”
‘Okay. I can’t believe he still had this. Can we play it again?’
Bitty and Sully sat on the floor of the office, listening to a young Sully singing Madonna’s ‘This Used to Be My Playground’ as the scene fades.
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Undisclosed Location
Los Angeles, CA
Evening of May 26th, 2024
Another sun sets down behind me
Another day comes crashing in
There's a whispering wind that's blowing
There's a storm that's closing in
Another day comes crashing in
There's a whispering wind that's blowing
There's a storm that's closing in
“Hey, you look somewhat familiar, toots. Sure I haven’t seen you around here before?” The voice was old, hoarse. Another lost angel trying to either find a way out of their mortal coil, or a way to become fertilizer to create new life. His hair, face, and clothing were all the color of stained-in dirt and soot for the tracks nearby. Hadn’t had a shower in probably weeks at this point, his beard had grown out like he’d been a member of ZZ Top in a previous time. The teeth he had remaining were as dark as the rest of them. “Got a smoke on ya?”
“Hey, Jimmy, honestly I thought you…” Olive handed him a couple of cigarettes from her pack. She didn’t smoke anymore unless on very rare occasions, but she knew having cigarettes and a stash of alcohol on her would help her get information, or at least, it’d keep her from getting mugged. Olive sat down beside the old man and lit his cigarette for him. “Where’d the Church go?”
“Fuckers raided it in 2021, then the city leveled it. Said it was unfit. Like this is?” Jimmy raised his arms and turned around in place showing off the surroundings. “Then the system cut my bennies. Then the heat came. Some of them didn’t make it. Cooked dead right on the sidewalks.”
Jimmy gets up and motions Olive to follow him. They walk along a trail to an abandoned rail building in the shadow of a newer modern one. “This is the new Church. City struck a deal with Amtrak to convert this building to a shelter of sorts.”
“Good, that will help them, but when are you coming back with me to Jersey?”
Jimmy sits down on the porch of the building, his shoulders slumped. “Liv, you know I can’t do that. That ship sailed long ago.”
“Says you. She misses you, but she doesn’t know that we know each other. I didn’t even know she was your kid until she was telling me about you. She needs you.”
Jimmy shakes his head. “Nah, she don’t. And if she’s around you, she’s already better off. Besides, she knows where to find me.”
I can hear the trains, they're rolling
To a place I've never been
And I can feel her breath beside me
With an empty glass of gin
As the darkness settles in
To a place I've never been
And I can feel her breath beside me
With an empty glass of gin
As the darkness settles in
“Actually, she doesn’t… fuck, this really shouldn’t be coming from me… but even if she did, she wouldn’t be able to communicate. I know you can’t read anymore with your eyes gone to shit, Jimmy. And Julia can’t speak.” Olive places her hand on Jimmy’s. “Ex tried to slash her throat. She fought back enough to escape. Last I’ve heard, he’s somewhere here in LA.”
“Julia, she… she’s special. Girl had a beautiful voice on her, could sing anything from Ella to Madonna, but she was bullied a lot. Our whole family was. You knew the shit I did, I paid my debt to society but society hasn’t let me back in yet. Marjorie’s long gone, left me when I was behind bars. And Julia, well, all she’s really ever heard of me was shit that Margie’s told her. Might have met her a half-dozen times in her life? But I still have that vinyl of hers. Hang on.”
Jimmy walks into the shelter and after a few minutes, he comes out holding a small vinyl record in a paper sheet.
“Here, take it back to Jersey with you, and play it. Anything you’ve always wondered about Julia can be found in her voice.”
Doves Compound
New Egypt, NJ
July 24th, 2024
We find ourselves inside a rather large log cabin. On the walls is a flag of the Devil’s Dove patch, a raven with red horns and the Shieldmaidens shield on its back, symbolizing their charter status with the Shieldmaidens, despite the difference in name. Photos on the wall of the different couples and families within the group. On another wall is a large poster of the group in front of the Krigarakademin, along with pictures of the girls and women who are both in the program, and graduated. As the private part of the Dove meeting ends, Sykobitty puts her hand up to get everyone’s attention.
“I know we don’t do this very often, having cameras in here or really at all, but I wanted to talk about a few things while we were all here and I have no issues having this get out on the internet or what have you. As you all know, what started as me going after one person in NFW, has devolved into a war with the Wolves of Odinn. Personally, I don’t think anyone in this room is going to back down from a challenge, but I wanted to use the cameras to make this clear again because I think the Wolves have a little too much fur in their ears, or nothing between them, so I have to repeat myself yet again.”
Sykobitty stands up and faces the camera.
“The Devil’s Doves collectively have no beef with you. The only thing I want is to get MY Silver Mountain championship back from Priscilla White who currently holds it. I never lost it fairly years ago, and I plan to rectify that problem by whatever means necessary. If you continue to persist in involving yourselves in business that does not concern you, I will have no choice but to return the favor in kind. We will throw hands with anyone irresponsible enough to get involved in affairs you have no business involving yourself in. Yes, I have said some things in the past that got under your craw. Guess what? Knowledge has a way of changing one’s opinion, and I have not only apologized for those comments, but have even spoken to people pertinent to the situation. If you guys weren’t aware, obviously you weren’t pertinent. This will be the last time I discuss this. The next infraction from you will be considered a call to arms, and we will eradicate the issue by whatever means necessary. Thank you.”
Sykobitty sits back down and all the Doves pound the table in approval. As Sykobitty was about to bring up the next topic of discussion, one of the Doves at the table raises their hands. The woman was rather thick, with half her head shaved and gothic makeup on her face. One of Bitty’s favorite loose cannons in the group.
“Maneater, the table’s yours.”
Maneater stood up, and as she spoke, she started to approach Bitty with a bit of aggression in her stride and tone. “Well, with yous wrestlin’ and all, when are wes gettin’ the band back together?”
Before Maneater could get too close to Bitty, a slightly-taller brunette than Maneater stood up and put herself between Maneater and Bitty. “Chaz, you know damned well we’re going to be needed soon. Asking like this ain’t going to help your cause, right?”
Bitty stood up, and stepped in front of Zombie, getting nose to tits with the taller Maneater. “Zombie’s right. I’ve got a little something planned for as soon as Tuesday that we’ll discuss later. Right now, I have other pressing matters.”
“Like that four-way where only two of yous deserve to be there?”
“Yeah, actually. I’m still trying to wrap my head around how Evans and Adams earned their opportunity, but I digress. Alright, meeting’s over. I have to finish up a couple of things here but we have that summer BBQ at the Academy so we need all hands on deck.”
As the Doves all leave, Sykobitty slips into a side office where an old-style Technics sound system from the 1980s sat. Bitty sees a note on the system. ‘All pieces work. Let me know if you need anything. -Topino’. Bitty pulls out the 45 and places it on the turntable and drops the needle onto it. It begins with a young girl chuckling into the microphone and a man in the background coaching her. Bitty can tell the man’s voice was a younger Jimmy. As the girl starts to sing, Bitty smiles and closes her eyes…
I can hear her voice again
…not realizing Sully, aka Julia Hammett, the mute girl who is Bitty’s assistant, is standing in the doorway with tears in her eyes. The record stops abruptly and Bitty opens her eyes to a very upset Sully, texting like crazy.
‘Where did you find this?!’
Bitty looks around the room, and realizes there's no chairs in the room. She motions to Sully to sit on the floor with her as Bitty goes through her photos on her phone. She shows Sully a picture of Bitty and Jimmy back in 2018, both obviously under some sort of influence, and then a recent photo from a couple of months prior.
“Jules, listen. The day you told me a bit of your life story, I started to do some research and I know your father, Jimmy. He’s still alive but in bad shape. He’s homeless in Los Angeles and he’s too stubborn to come here. So he gave me the 45. Honey, your voice is amazing!”
Sully sits and Bitty hugs Sully’s much-larger frame.
‘I'm not surprised. He was very transient when I was younger, but the times he was around, I enjoyed every minute of them. He was not the way my mother described him.’
“Jimmy’s eyesight’s going so he’s not going to be able to read what you write, but we’ll do something. You’re coming with me to get him.”
‘No. We will help him there, but I do want to see him.’
“Monday, we’ll go, okay? I promise.”
‘Okay. I can’t believe he still had this. Can we play it again?’
I can hear your voice again
Bitty and Sully sat on the floor of the office, listening to a young Sully singing Madonna’s ‘This Used to Be My Playground’ as the scene fades.
![[Image: BqBpRJs.png]](https://i.imgur.com/BqBpRJs.png)