Chapter 48: Gilded Chair

“Dammit!” Jackson screamed, punching a wall and shattering it to pieces.

She huffed and puffed to herself, snarling as a familiar set of footsteps approached from behind.

“So,” she growled, “have you come here to admonish me for my failures?"

“Why would I do something like that?” Lincoln replied with a smile. “I know we do not see eye to eye on most things, General; but your actions today were worthy of nothing but praise.”

“Praise?” she hissed, jabbing a finger into Lincoln’s chest. “I put everything I had into that match and still failed to take Davis down! Tell me, where is the praise in that?”

“You may not have beaten her for good, but I dare say you handled her better than anyone save a Rushmore could have. And with those injuries you’ve given her, Johnson is all but guaranteed to finish her in their next match.”

Jackon gave a snort.

“I’m afraid I don’t have much faith in that drunkard buffoon getting the job done.”

Lincoln gave a chuckle.

“Fair enough! But even should Johnson fail to win in round two,” he rested a hand on the brim of his stovepipe hat, “I’ll simply defeat her in round three!”

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Davis’s body shuffled through the coliseum halls, stopping as her mind came back to consciousness.

“Urgh…” she grumbled, looking around to figure out where she was. “What is…”

“Davis!” a voice screamed from behind.

Davis turned back, smiling as she recognized the person coming towards her.

“Hank Pierce!” she exclaimed, greeting him with a firm embrace. “How are you, old friend?”

“I’m a bit conflicted,” he admitted with a meek grin. “Of course, I’m overjoyed to see you again, but I’m terribly saddened to see my boss losing like that.”

Davis rubbed her chin.

“So, I won then…?”

“What’s that?”

“Nothing; nothing at all. In any event…” she glanced to a security camera, “let us postpone our reunion until the tournament is finished. I don’t want you getting wrapped up in my affairs any more than you have to.”

“Of course! What’s a few days between pals?”

Davis stared at Pierce, then back to the camera behind them.

“Before we part, I’d like to offer you a small piece of advice…”

She stepped next to him and whispered into his ear.

“…surrender your match against Benny Harrison tomorrow.”

Pierce snorted, then broke into a hardy laugh.

“Come now! A man as prideful as myself could never do something as pitiful as that!”

Davis shook her head.

“I know. Even so…” Davis walked past him, “…I would never forgive myself if I didn’t at least try to stop you from making the gravest mistake of your life…”

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

“Hello everybody,” Thompson spoke up, “that last fight…”

She bit her lip.

“…sure was something, huh? Anyways,” she grinned, taking back her composure, “let’s keep things rolling with our next match! Our two fighters today are total opposites of each other, both in terms of personality as well as in their spending habits!”

She gestured to the arena.

“First up, we have a gangster known for his lavish lifestyle and secretive nature! He has an insatiable appetite for gourmet meals, fine designer clothes, and most of all; winning! Yes, this man will do whatever it takes to win, even if it means playing a little dirty! But no matter how dirty his tactics might get, he always ensures his own hands stay squeaky clean! Let’s hear it, for [The Gentleman Boss], Charles Arthur!”

A set of four gangster walked in carrying a smiling Arthur seated atop a gilded chair. He was a large man, dressed in a luxurious suit with heavy mutton chops on his face. He waved at the crowd, showcasing his dazzling rings and Presidential Seal on his right hand. His men placed his chair near the center of the arena, shooting a quick salute for their boss before exiting the grounds.

“For his opponent,” Thompson continued, “we’ve got the second in command of The Ohio Gang! She’s a woman who prefers to speak with action rather than words; who as far as possible adopts an attitude of total simplicity! Her minimalistic approach wouldn’t work for most, but she carries in her a sufficient power to dispose of any splendor while still making sure to get the job done right! Give it up, for [Silent Cal], Callie Coolidge!”

Coolidge walked in wearing a plain robe and holding a bo staff in her hands; her entrance completely devoid of any sort of fanfare.

“Hey, girlie!” Arthur shouted, snapping his fingers at Coolidge as she approached. “Why don’t we makes this a little more interesting?” He rubbed the rings around his chubby fingers. “I’ll bet you my finest piece of jewelry I can beat you without getting out of my seat!”

Coolidge stared blankly at him, saying nothing.

Arthur waited a moment, then clicked his tongue.

“…whatever,” Arthur muttered, sitting back into his chair and adjusting his tie, “it would have been my win anyways.”

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Davis and Pierce. Jefferson Davis and Franklin Pierce were good friends in real life, with Franklin both appointing Jefferson to be his Secretary of War as well as using his influence to give Jefferson better prison conditions after the end of the Civil War.

The Ohio Gang. Historically, The Ohio Gang was a group of politicians from Ohio who were a part of Warren Harding’s inner circle and who were later involved in a number of scandals. Calvin Coolidge had nothing to do with this (and in fact made sure to remove them after becoming President himself). The fact that Callie Coolidge is second in command of this Party refers only to the fact that Calvin Coolidge was Warren Harding’s Vice President.