THE PIDES OF MARCH

Pan over a table, covered in a white tablecloth with gold trim. It’s covered with plates upon plates of food – immediately noticeable are a platter of scones and two trays of cupcakes. There are brownies, chocolate truffles decorated like pots o’ gold, green hats, and rainbows. 

Scones and cupcakes are labeled as ‘Please help yourself!’ while the truffles and brownies have a label of ‘Not until after your match!’ with the most adorable skull and crossbones ever drawn next to it.

There is also a bundt cake with a glass cake topper over it, and a sign that reads ‘FOR BOBBY DEAN ONLY.’

Calico Rose: There. Now everyone has their pick of the treats and we can all be friends.

Cally paces in front of the table, moving a few things around so that the design on the tablecloth can be read. It’s a cake with several lit candles on top of it, and a knife cutting out a slice. The cake has a word balloon saying ‘Et tu, Par-Tay?’ above it. 

It was just three days ago, after all.

Next to Cally, Impulse has both hands on the wall, his eyes closed, and his chin tucked into his chest. She looks at him, lowers her purple tinted sunglasses and stands closer.

Calico Rose: You good, babe? 

Deep exhale. 

Impulse: I’m good, babe. Just making sure I’m ready for this.

She ducks under his arm and stands between him and the wall. He opens his eyes to look at her, and can’t help but smile despite himself.

Calico Rose: Earth to Randall Knox. You’re stressing out over nothing! You know what I bet Brandon Youngblood’s doing right now? 

He doesn’t answer, but she can read his expression. 

Twenty years of friendship (before anything else) does that.

Calico Rose: He’s in his locker room, stressin’ out over having to face off against The Great Impulse. 

Impulse: Maybe. But he’s got home field, and that’s important.

Calico Rose: Pish tosh, you can take that maybe to the canning factory! 

It takes a second for that to catch up, but Impulse laughs. 

Impulse: I really hope so. That thought in the brain would ease a lot of the pressure that I’ve put on myself.

Calico Rose: Babe, I look at it like this. Sure, the Universal Title is a big deal, and mainlining Culture Shock is a big deal, but at the end of the story, what’s the worst thing that happens? You lose a match. I say, can you really complain about losing to Brandon Youngblood? And I say I bet he’s asking someone right now, can he really complain about losing to Impulse? 

He takes another deep breath, and Impulse gives Cally a hug. 

Impulse: Sometimes I just need to hear that, ya know? 

Cally winks. 

Calico Rose: I know, babe. I am very wise. 

And we roll on.