|
|
Post by Kelsey Spencer on Aug 3, 2016 14:28:10 GMT
Every story’s got a beginning, a middle, and an ending; I like to think my story’s closer to the former than the latter. That's the thing with this industry, you never know when your time is up - one bad landing, or one poorly-timed dive from the top rope and you could be done. It's something I never really thought of when I was young; when you’re just starting out, you're fresh and hungry. You feel bulletproof; invincible.
There aren't many people who actually know my story - what was Kelsey Spencer like during her formative years? Well, I didn't go by the name Kelsey Spencer, for one… I was alternating between two aliases; “Blue Thunder”, the energetic, charismatic, confident young girl I always wanted to be; and “Charity”, the dark, depressive, emotionally fractured person I was deep down inside. They were fictional characters I had created for myself, as a way to express my emotions in (what I thought was) a healthy way.
I was never myself - I was afraid to be myself - and having these alternating wrestling personas gave me the chance… Erm, “excuse” to be recognised in and out of the ring as someone I wasn't. I hated myself. Still do, to a certain degree. I've somehow managed to live with myself long enough to at least accept that this is who I am; even though I'm emotionally numb, at least I can make the fans feel something.
Still, I'd feel a whole lot better if I knew there was someone I could always rely on. Someone who knows my faults and flaws, and accepts me for who I am.
Just…someone…
“Masson? Masson, where are you?”
I’ve been here before; wandering the streets, no sense of real direction, trying to find my big brother on a dark and stormy summer afternoon. Masson and I were half-siblings sharing the same dad, but he was almost a decade older than I am. I remember him being there for me when I was really young, when his mum still lived in Brisbane; he played the big brother role to perfection. Whenever I needed someone to cry to, he was there - whenever I fell off my bike and grazed my knee, he’d be there with a bandage and a smile, along with some kind of bogus excuse to explain the blood; “Don’t worry, it’s just strawberry jam trying to escape! You eat too much of it, Kels!” he’d say with a warm laugh. I was at that age where I knew that wasn’t the case, but part of me wanted to suspend my disbelief. To this day, I remember his voice in the back of my mind - whenever I need comfort or guidance, he’s there in my head to help me through.
Masson moved to Tasmania with his mum when I was about seven years old; I was devastated. I lost my best friend - my only friend - I had no-one. He wanted his mum to live with her family, and even though I didn’t understand it at the time, I can respect that now as an adult.
The sound of a single gunshot rings through the air - next thing I know, I’m running, but I’m not sure where to or what from. There, in the middle of the road, is Masson - clutching his chest, struggling to breathe. Above him with a .38 caliber revolver is a man I can’t quite recognise; I’ve seen him somewhere before, but I can’t place a name to the face. Suddenly, he turns to me, and…
I wake with a start, drenched in a cold sweat. Gosh, it was all a nightmare… My heart is racing as I sit up in my tiny bed, trying to catch my breath. The thing is, that was no ordinary nightmare - it was a flashback. I actually witnessed my brother die, but I didn’t actually see who killed him… So, why did I see someone standing over his body?
This is gonna be a long, sleepless night…
---
The video starts with a less-than-flattering shot of Kelsey Spencer as she navigates her mother’s tiny household; her dirty hair is piled up high like a bird’s nest, dried-up drool resides on her cheek - it’s clear as day that she didn’t get a wink of sleep last night.
“Hey, guys,” she greets the viewer, a little less enthusiastic than her usual intro. “I wanted to check in and say hello. Sorry about my hair, I just got out of bed, it’s a mess… Anyways, my friend Annabel Lee is coming over today, so I thought a cool little treat would be if I take you guys along with us while we enjoy our day! We’ll be heading to the gym to get some training in, maybe hang out for a bit…” Her attitude progressively improves as she paces up and down the hallway, talking to her phone. “I’m not sure exactly what we’re gonna get up to, but you guys will get to come along for the ride!” She begins making her way to the bathroom. “I’m gonna get myself cleaned up before Annabel gets here.”
The camera shuts off, and cuts to a shot the front door of the Spencer household as it creaks open, revealing Annabel standing on the front porch. “She’s here! Welcome!” a voice from behind the camera greets her kindly.
“Oh boy,” Annabel responds with a giggle as she realizes that she’s being filmed as soon as the door open. She puts on a big smile and gives a wave, “Hey!”
The camera shifts down for a second to catch a shot of her bags, then returns to her face. “Travelling a little light there?” Kelsey comments on her partner’s luggage.
“Lighter than last time!” Annabel replies brightly, blushing a little bit at the tease. She always packed way more than she ended up needing.
Kelsey steps back, allowing her partner to enter her mother’s home. She turns her phone around, placing herself into frame along with her friend. “Come on in! Can I offer you a drink?” she smiles, glancing over her shoulder as Annabel enters.
“Oh that would be great! I hate buying stuff at the airport because it’s so expensive, y’know?” Annabel looks around slowly, still holding her bags while she takes in the house.
Kelsey leads her friend into the kitchen, whilst the camera remains squarely on them. She motions toward an empty space on the floor in the tiny room, stating: “You can put your stuff down there, if you’d like…”
Glancing at the spot, Annabel quickly puts her bags down, nudging them with her foot to be sure they’re fully out of the way. As soon as she does so, Kelsey swoops in with a tall glass of chilled water, happily offered to her guest. Annabel takes a long drink from the glass with a satisfied sound. “Thank you! I needed that.”
The soft pitter-patter of footsteps can be heard on the tiled floor. Kelsey adjusts the shot to include a short, middle-aged woman dressed in an eye-catching summer dress. She hesitates for a moment at the sight of a stranger in the kitchen, looking between the two girls for some kind of validation. Kelsey moves over to the woman, putting her arm around her and filming the pair of them. “Mama, I want you to meet my new friend, Annabel Lee! And Annabel, this is my mum, Margaret Spencer!”
A close-up shot of the woman reveals some rather nasty-looking bruises on her face, in addition to her forehead being plastered with bandages; Kelsey’s mannerisms seem to suggest that she’s had the injuries for a while. The camera spins, catching Annabel’s initial reaction to meeting Kelsey’s shy mother.
If Annabel is put off at all, it doesn’t show on her face in the least. Her smile hasn’t faded. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Spencer.” She doesn’t know much about Kelsey’s mother, so she can’t strike up much more of a conversation just yet.
“Anna’s my tag team partner, ma!” Kelsey announces. Her mother’s face brightens slightly as she recognises Annabel from the PAW DVDs Kelsey watches with her frequently. She approaches her daughter’s tag partner and shakes her hand, welcoming her into her home.
“It is pleasure to meet you,” she softly announces, in what appears to be a thick Ukrainian accent. “Kelsey has many stories of you. You are good influence on my daughter.”
Annabel blushes profusely at the praise; she’s surprised to hear the difference in accent between Kelsey and her mum, but she doesn’t deem it necessary to mention it. “Oh, I’m sure Kelsey exaggerated a bit! She’s been teaching me so much. I’m lucky to have such a great partner!”
Kelsey’s warm smile is captured on film, as she’s positioned her phone to record all three of them - plus capture 85% of the tiny kitchen in the very same shot. There’s a slight skip in the video, indicating an edit.
“So you’ll be at Bad Moon Rising, ma?” Kelsey asks her mother with a proud smile. Margaret leans in, suggesting she couldn’t hear what she said, prompting Kelsey to repeat, “You gonna be at Bad Moon Rising?”
“Oh, yes, yes,” she responds with a nod. “You kids are good at that wrestling, I like watching you together.”
“It’s gonna be the first time you see me live, huh? Provided we can get the job done this week.”
“I never see you live!” she lets out a hearty laugh, infectious enough to bring a chuckle out of Kelsey. “You always say ‘come see me live’, this time, I come.”
Annabel smiles at the exchange between the two - it’s exciting to know that Kelsey’s mum will be there for their next match. It’s daunting too, of course - there’s extra pressure now to be sure that she will do her absolute best for Kelsey in front of her family.
“Come on, let me show you around the rest of the house!” Kelsey invites her friend on a tour. The next dozen seconds shows a montage of Annabel tagging along behind Kelsey as she points out small features of their tiny abode. The tour ends in Kelsey’s bedroom, which bears more resemblance to a storage unit - small, cramped, junk and blankets scattered all over; the state of the room isn’t addressed by its inhabitant, who carries on a casual conversation. “So, what do you think of Baltimore compared to Portland?” she questions, holding her phone in one hand as she listens intently.
Annabel’s nose scrunches up in thought before she answers, “It’s so different! I’ve never been here before, even with all the traveling with my dad. I like it though, it’s neat! It’s got a whole different feel. Or maybe it’s just because I’m not used to it.”
“Your dad’s a pretty cool dude,” Kelsey comments, kicking at a dirty sock on the carpeted floor. She had met Annabel’s dad at a barbecue in Portland several weeks ago, and despite her initial thoughts, the two actually hit it off. “He’s proud of you, I can tell.” She looks to Annabel with a friendly smirk, the pair remaining awkwardly silent for a moment.
Annabel struggles not to blush, but keeps on smiling. “He really likes you,” she says in a conspiratorial whisper. “He talked a lot about you after you left. I think your mum is proud of you, too!”
Kelsey’s gaze wanders, catching the dusty pedestal fan in the corner. “I’m so glad she’s supporting me with this,” she states, in a way that indicates her mother wasn’t always on board with the idea of her becoming a professional wrestler. Kelsey’s head swings back 180 degrees to lock eyes with her partner; with a sly grin, she quizzes her: “How about we head down to the gym and get some training in?!”
“Sure!” Annabel replies brightly. After a moment though, her tone became a little more serious. “Just… answer one thing for me first?”
Kelsey’s glowing smile fades, her tone becoming stern to match Annabel’s. “What’s on your mind?”
Annabel hesitates a few moments longer as she worries that the question might be too personal. “What happened to your mum? ...It wasn’t… it…” she takes a deep breath as she struggles with the words. “If it was your father - if you need help - you can tell me.” There’s an edge to her tone that Kelsey had never heard before.
“Oh, no, it was nothing like that…” Kelsey waves it off, shaking her head - one could tell she was trying to make it out like it wasn’t a big deal. “I haven’t seen my dad in over ten years. It was...something that happened a while back, it’s not important right now…”
Annabel accepts the explanation with a nod and lets the seriousness fade away. “Alright. As long as you know I’ll always be there if you need me! Now… let’s go train!”
---
There’s a quick cut in the recording - we’re soon teleported to the interior of Kelsey’s car - Annabel is occupying the passenger seat as the one in control of the phone while Kelsey’s driving. “So many people on the road today…” Kelsey comments from behind her sunglasses. Traffic in their current lane is clearly at a standstill, as Kelsey inspects her mirror for an opening to switch lanes. Soon after, she flicks her blinker on and makes the jump - pretty soon, the pair are whizzing to their destination.
“Is it always like this?” Annabel asks from behind the camera. Of course, Portland had more than its share of traffic.
“I guess I’m never really driving around the place at this time,” Kelsey confesses as she’s filmed in profile. She turns her head slightly towards her passenger, making sure to still keep both eyes squarely on the road. “I’m usually going to the gym very early or very late, know what I mean?”
“Oh, for sure! I get up super early for my morning run, usually. Then I have some breakfast and head to the gym. Or if I have to travel, I go late at night. Places are emptier then anyway.”
“That’s the way I like it!” Kelsey chuckles, drumming her hands on the steering wheel. The video cuts for a handful of seconds to a shot of Paramore’s “Misery Business” blasting from the car stereo and Kelsey belting out the chorus passionately while she’s driving. Another video cut shows that the phone is back in Kelsey’s hand, and she’s filming the pair walking into the gym. “This place is new,” she whispers to Annabel as she removes her sunglasses. “I’ve only been here once or twice, should be pretty quiet.”
“I hope they won’t think we’re too strange! I bet they don’t get to see wrestlers in here very often. Or do they?” Every wrestler had to train somewhere, after all.
However many of them choose a small gym in Baltimore, Maryland is a topic which is up for debate.
Kelsey shrugs. “Guess we’ll find out…”
Contrary to her beliefs, the gym is overflowing with aspiring fitness gurus and elderly men and women looking to recapture their slim, youthful bodies. Kelsey films a panning shot of the gym before bringing the camera back to the girls. “A lot more people than I expected…” she commentates, her eyes still scanning the scene.
“That’s alright, I’m sure we can find a space for some work. Lifting is always great, too!” It doesn’t seem like much ever gets Annabel down; the smile never leaves her face. Kelsey, on the other hand, is skeptical - never one to be a fan of crowds, she’s reluctant to step into the room. However, she’s seemingly convinced by Annabel’s enthusiasm to put her phobia aside.
“How’re you feeling about our match this week, Anna?” Kelsey questions, focusing the camera squarely on her partner as they navigate the labyrinth of humanity to find their own space. “You nervous?”
“Oh, for sure! Strick and Johnny Raike are going to be super challenging. Tougher even than Mikael and Adam Wolfe! I know we’ve got a lot of work ahead of us for that. I’m not sure anyone is going to expect us to win. Of course, no one expected us to win against Mikael and Adam either…” She gave a little nod with her last point.
“Exactly!” Kelsey agreed, nodding with a confident smile. “Every time they count us out, we find a way to overcome. That’s kinda our thing, huh?” She laughs anxiously.
“I think it might be! That’s okay with me too! Surprising everybody was fun. It’ll be fun to do it again too.”
“Okay, I'm gonna put this down so we can get some work done,” Kelsey announces to the camera. “See you guys in a little bit!”
---
Right on cue, there's a cut to darkness, and we’re soon shown a shot of the two leaving the gym.
“I really felt that one!” an exhausted Kelsey announces between short breaths, before tilting her head to her partner. “How about you?”
Annabel’s initial response was just a little groan, followed by a giggle. “Oh yeah. I’m gonna feel that for a few days. It was a great session!”
“I feel like we achieved a lot today,” Kelsey comments with a smile, brushing the hair out of her face. “I feel that training session was even better than our first, I dunno about you. But it feels like we’ve discovered each other’s strengths and weaknesses; everything just flowed easier this time.”
“Oh definitely!” Annabel’s ponytail bounces as she nods vigorously. “I know it might seem silly after just a few training sessions and one match, but I really feel like we know each other in the ring, y’know? Like we can anticipate each other pretty well. In the wrestling school I went to we didn’t do much tag work, and I never really clicked with anyone in that way, but there were a few people that I really loved to spar with because of how well we knew each other.”
“I've had the same issue, really. I haven't really had much experience in tagging with people; I've always been kind of a lone wolf.” She climbs into the car, handing the phone over to Annabel once she's in the passenger side. “I think we’re onto something, though!” she declares enthusiastically with a smile. “We’ve been hanging out a lot, we’re getting to know each other’s personalities… Maybe that's the key, who knows?”
“That could be! I think sometimes maybe it’s just… supposed to happen, y’know? We talked on Twitter a little, we were suddenly partners, we won our first tag match in spite of being a new team and being pretty new to the company. It’s a lot of coincidences. Maybe it was just… fate!”
“I think you may be right!” Kelsey agrees, shifting the sunglasses from the top of her head to cover her eyes. She switches over the ignition, clicks the car into gear and soon enough, the pair are back on the road. “I've never really been one to believe in fate, but the way everything’s just fallen into place like this and the way we mesh so well together, there's gotta be something more to it than just sheer coincidence. Like, what brought you to PAW, of all places? Why did I come back just as you were gaining traction? What are the odds we’d both be looking for a partner to enter this Tag Title challenge? So many questions that can't really be left up to chance, huh?”
“Right? And I wasn’t even really looking for a partner. I didn’t think that anyone would want to team with me because I was so new and I wasn’t sure that I was even ready for that kind of thing. I can’t even tell you what made me decide to tweet at you for that first time.” Annabel absently taps her finger against the phone in thought, making it shake just a bit. “Whatever it was, it’s been one of the best things to ever happen to me.”
“You're a good kid, Anna,” Kelsey goes into sensei mode, flicking on her blinker to merge onto the freeway. “Like I've said, you remind me of myself when I was your age. I wanted to team with you because I see a bright future for you, and I wanna be here to make sure you get there the right way.” She itches the end of her nose, placing both hands back on the steering wheel in a comfortable position. “I don't want you ending up like me - at 27 years old, having done this since you were 16 - still trying to kick down that door of opportunity.”
“I don’t think you give yourself enough credit, Kelsey. You’re really really good. You’ve got a great attitude. You’re not… well… bitter and jaded. A lot of people get that way.”
Kelsey’s quiet, shaking her head with a slight smirk visible to the camera. After almost half a minute, she weakly responds. “It's kinda hard sometimes,” she clears her throat, slapping the steering wheel with enthusiasm. She looks in Annabel’s direction, pasting on that faux smile of hers. “Hey! You know what always cheers me up?! An all-you-can-eat buffet! I think we've earned it!”
“Oh, I try to avoid buffets because I always eat way too much!” Annabel laughed at herself. “But I’m starving right now and it sounds so good! Let’s do it!”
The video cuts to a panning shot of various meats, salads and yoghurts spread out under protective acrylic. “Look at all this delicious food, just begging to be eaten…” Kelsey can be heard commenting from behind the camera, her salivation at the sight of it interpreted perfectly. Another cut, and we see Annabel seated at a table in the busy restaurant with a plate of food in front of her, Kelsey still presumably behind the phone’s camera. “Is that all you’re gonna have?” Kelsey jokes, displaying a shot of Annabel’s plate of food in comparison to her own - which is holding almost three times the amount of fresh salad and deli meat.
Annabel giggles. “No, I can just pretend I eat less if I don’t put as much on one plate. Besides, I like to save room for dessert too! Did you see that selection?!”
“Smart!” she reacts with a laugh. “That red velvet cake looked amazing, remind me to grab a slice!” There’s a small skip in the video, indicating that Kelsey stopped filming for a moment while she was eating. When it comes back, the girls are still seated at the table. “Hey, Anna… Who do you think could eat more; Press or Jack Nomad?”
Annabel takes a moment to seriously consider the silly question. “Press, out of sheer stubbornness. I think Jack Nomad would give up.”
“Woah, really? I’d have gone the other way around; Press would probably eat until he barfs, but Jack looks like a dude who knows how to keep his meat and potatoes down! What about a tag team eating contest - me and you versus Strick and Johnny?”
“Totally us! I’ve seen that picture of Johnny Raike on the front page of PAW so many times and he looks like he probably just licks a protein bar twice a day or something.”
“Plus, you’ve got me on your side!” Kelsey points out, with a shot of her plate to accompany her next declaration: “This is my fourth helping!” She lets out a relaxed laugh, on the cusp of being loud enough to disrupt other patrons.
“If PAW ever puts on some kind of food eating contest, you are so my partner for that too!”
---
There’s one final cut in the video; this time, we’re back at Kelsey’s mother’s house, where Kelsey is walking around the tiny cottage filming herself. She’s dressed down, wearing her orange Dragon Ball Z pyjamas that compliment her hair perfectly.
“Crazy day we’ve had!” she declares, rounding a corner and entering a new room. “Training was tough, lunch was amazing…” She stops speaking, turning her attention to something just out of shot. With a genuine smile, she lets out a small chuckle. “...and Anna’s PJ’s are adorable!”
“Hey, these are my lucky PJs, I take them everywhere!” Annabel giggles at the compliment, however, before plopping down next to Kelsey, wearing her Finding Nemo nightshirt and shorts.
“So Annabel’s gonna stay over tonight and head home in the morning,” Kelsey explains to the camera, and thus, the viewer. “We figured it would just be easier that way - she can get her rest and head off fresh! Plus, it’s a cool excuse for us to hang out a little more!” She nudges her friend playfully, before turning to her. “You wanna take my bed and I’ll have the couch?”
“Aww, I don’t want to kick you out of your own bed! I can totally take the couch.”
“Nah, it’s cool! It’s lumpy anyway, I wouldn’t want you to have to deal with that,” Kelsey states, glancing over at a box that has toppled over because of the draft creeping into the room. “How are you feeling about this match coming up? I mean, honestly… I can switch the camera off if you don’t wanna film this..?”
“Well I know that it’s going to be the biggest challenge I’ve faced since coming to PAW. I’m glad that I have you to face it with me! It’s an uphill battle, but we can do it!”
“I love your attitude towards everything, honestly,” Kelsey comments with a smile. “Truth is, I think this match is gonna tough for both of us.. I’ve been watching what both of these guys can do, and I’m thinking… I dunno how I could ever come anywhere close to that level. I guess sometimes, I feel like my best years are behind me…” Her eyes widen slightly, lighting up with hope. “But then when I see how excited you are to be going out there every show, and I think about how I get to be right there with you, I suddenly don’t feel so sad!”
“You’re only a few years older than I am, Kelsey! Your best days aren’t behind you, they’re just starting!” Annabel pushes a bit of hair out of her face now that it isn’t in her usual ponytail. “I mean, sure - there are some people who get injured or retire early, but there are people who wrestle for like, 20 years!”
Kelsey nods slightly, her eyes finding the messed up sheets of her bed. The prospect of injuries clearly a touchy subject, she looks to do as she always does in a conversation that makes her uncomfortable - change the subject. “What do you think of our opponents this week? I mean, one of them is a champion… It's your first time wrestling a champ, if I'm not mistaken..?”
“It definitely is. It’s kind of intimidating.” Well, more than kind of, really.
“He's good, no question - they both are - but at the end of the day, they're wrestlers just like us. I try and think about it that way, you know? Everyone’s a wrestler, anyone can best even the toughest opponent on their best day.”
“Exactly! No matter what people like to try to pretend, we’re all just human. Everyone can be beaten, everyone has been beaten. That’s just the reality.” Annabel nods once after echoing a paraphrased lesson from her father.
“In the same way, though, that means anyone can beat us, too,” Kelsey points out, covering her mouth as she lets out a yawn. “We’ve gotta keep our guard up.”
“Of course. It’s not about whether you win or lose though, not as much as it’s about how you win or lose. Can’t let a loss get you down and derail you!”
“Well said!” Kelsey glances at the camera for a split second, then back to Annabel. “I dunno about you, but I’m beat… You wanna call it a night?”
As if in answer of the question, Annabel has to stifle a yawn of her own, nodding all the while. “That sounds… like… a plan.”
“Alright guys, we’re about ready to wrap this up for the day,” Kelsey addresses the camera. “Thanks for tagging along with us today, hope you had as much fun watching as we had making this!” She looks to her friend. “And thank you, Annabel, for spending the day with me! Anything you wanna say to the Kelsey Club before we go?”
“Thanks for having me along! It’s been a ton of fun. I’m sure this isn’t the last time the Kelsey Club will see me. Sweet dreams everyone!”
---
Despite the initial sign-off, the video does not end here; it continues in a much darker setting, showing just Kelsey tip-toeing around what appears to be the living room of her mother’s house. It’s clearly the middle of the night. “I couldn’t sleep,” Kelsey whispers at minimum volume. “Too much on my mind, and-” She stops walking as she kicks over a box, quickly checking over her shoulder as the sound rings throughout the old house - it seems the noise failed to awaken both Annabel and Kelsey’s mother. “I’m gonna continue this outside…” She says to the camera, hastily making her way out of the house.
Stepping out onto the sidewalk, Kelsey sighs deeply. “That’s better, don't have to keep it down anymore,” she declares, her voice returning to its natural amplification. She begins slowly walking down the street, still filming herself. “I’m not exactly sure why I’m recording this… I guess it’s therapeutic? I wanna find a way to get some of my feelings out there… Since there’s not really anyone left for me to talk to, I guess this is the best way to do that.”
She runs her hand through her hair, briefly looking across the road as a bat squeaks. “I’m not sure if I should post this…” She can be heard mumbling to herself as she gazes at her sneakers, before looking back to the camera. “I dunno what my role is anymore. I feel like I’m stuck in limbo, sorta - I know that’s probably not the case, but I can’t shake that feeling. I mean, I come back and meet an amazing young girl who becomes my tag team partner - a girl whom I see so much potential in - and now I feel...different.” She pauses to collect her thoughts, transferring them into words. “I feel different because for the longest time, it was just me. And now, I’ve got my tag team partner sleeping over my house - excuse me, my mum’s house - because we’re training together. I dunno, that just feels so surreal to me.
Something happened in that match we had - the one at Wicked #15 against Adam Wolfe and Mikael - we just clicked. It was our first match teaming together, but it was like we had been teaming for years… Annabel said something earlier today, what was it..?” She tilts her neck skywards - a few seconds later, her eyes widen as she snaps her fingers, meeting the phone’s camera lens with a smile. “Ah, that’s right! She called it ‘fate’. I’m not the kinda person to really believe in that sort of thing usually, but the more I think about it, the more I think she may be onto something. The way we worked together in that match was special; it filled a gaping void inside me that’s been widening for a while now.
I look ahead to the future and what’s in store for us; I don’t know how to react, to be quite honest. Here we are, Wicked #16, with a chance to qualify for the PAW Tag Team Championship Turmoil at Bad Moon Rising. I mean, you guys can go to the official PAW site and see a list of all the teams that are competing to qualify for the Turmoil - The BombTrax, The French Mime Assassins, Mercy & Sin…” She raises a single finger into the frame. “Mercy & Sin, by the way… We haven’t forgotten about that little stunt you pulled on us after our match. Don’t think we won’t pay you back for that one.”
She lowers her hand as she finds a seat on a bus stop bench. She hunches over, taking the phone in both hands as she continues to post her thoughts on film.
“Strick Plissken and Johnny Raike are our opponents this week; yup, the guys we’ve gotta beat to make it to the match at Bad Moon Rising are two no-nonsense dudes. You’d think with Strick’s military background and Johnny’s success here in PAW that I’d be worried; but I’m not. I don’t know either of these guys personally, but Strick and Johnny, to me, look like a pair of guys who would take a passing glance at Annabel and I before scoffing and looking right ahead to Bad Moon Rising. I mean, why wouldn’t they? Johnny Raike especially, seeing as he has a big title defense coming up. They don’t see us as a legitimate threat, I’m sure of it, and that’s the common misconception about us; based on our size and lack of experience as a tag team, we’re no threat to anyone. Well, we proved every one of our detractors wrong in Natchitoches, and we’ll do it again in Jackson.
I know Annabel’s new to wrestling, but she’s more than ready for the challenge - and I’m gonna be here to guide her, 100% of the way. I think that’s the kind of role I was brought here by fate to play - I’m less of a standout star, and more of a mentor, which...I’m not sure whether or not that bothers me. I enjoy passing on my knowledge onto Anna; I like watching her learn and improve, the way she smiles when she perfects a new technique.
But, at the same time, it leaves me feeling unfulfilled as a wrestler. I can’t help but think back to Heat Stroke - if I were healthy, would it have been me in Nova’s place, winning that Battle Royal and moving on to challenge Johnny Raike for the Titans of the Midway Title? It’s something trivial that shouldn’t matter, but...I can’t shake the feeling that I’m not living up to my potential.”
She remains silent for a few moments; the video hasn’t been edited to cut the silence out, though it’s unclear whether or not it was left in on purpose. There’s a real sense of raw emotion and anguish in Kelsey’s face as she hangs her head to disguise it. A few moments pass, with nothing but the night wind whistling through the phone’s mic. Kelsey lifts her chin - the facade isn’t present, her walls are down. She’s vulnerable.
“I don’t know what could’ve been,” she presses on with her video diary, her voice shaking and cracking. “I'm not afraid to admit that's one of the things that keeps me up at night. Maybe being in the ring with Raike this week will give me some kind of indication as to where I stack up…” She pauses, shaking her head and clearing her throat. A surge of confidence rushes over Kelsey as she stands, reminded of what’s at stake and who she’s fighting alongside. “No… It’s time for me to stop caring about that. I’m part of a team now. Strick and Johnny, I know you don’t share the kind of bond Annabel and I do, because our bond is unique. You guys are here because you’re wanting to add championship titles to your resume - we’re here for the love of the sport. We’re here to be the very best tag team in PAW, and that championship signifies that! While you’ve thrown yourselves together to try and make a run for the gold, you’re preoccupied with firing managers and defending titles - we’re focused on one thing, and that’s heading to Bad Moon Rising to compete against the greatest tag teams in PAW!
Every story has a beginning, a middle, and an ending; ours has only just begun."
|
|
|
|
Post by johnnyraike on Aug 4, 2016 2:00:00 GMT
“I’m so sorry it took me so long to get to you. What with travel, keeping sharp, et al, it’s so hard work in a personal call these days. You sure you don’t mind the multi-tasking?”
The questioning face of Johnny Raike appears standing tall over Strick Plissken, thanks to the pedestal the man stands on, having his new sparkly green skirt refit by a gum popping young tailor.
Honestly, Strick finds himself in uncharted territory. Sure, he’d seen a dress fitting now and again, but never one where a fella was the one getting fitted.
“No, not at all partner,” Strick says as he watches the proceedings, “You’re a busy fella, I get that. So is this in ring attire or you getting prepared for a,” Strick pauses, wanting to say ‘black tie’ event but recovers with, “Sparkly green skirt event?”
Johnny suppressed a smirk. It’s not that he’s trying to trip anyone up with his change in outfit, but it is a kinda fun side effect.
“For the ring. The old “Want Me” pants, while pretty great, just felt like someone I’m not anymore. Or at least not at the moment. So, I figured, new gear, new song, and hopefully less of having to constantly try and make people understand me. Fuck, you got Nova trying to call me a virgin as though that would ever actually register as an insult to me. Hot doggin’ little shit. Ow!”
Johnny jumps as the tailor catches him with a pin, smiling an embarrassed smile as he fixes the skirt.
“Beauty is pain, so they say.”
“Happily take your word for that, something tells me I'm a bit dated,” Strick said with a chuckle, “Nova’s too damn much hot air, friend.”
Strick held a win over Nova Wonder and knew her insults held all the weight of an inflated balloon. He chuckled to himself as he silently wondered if it would be a show of solidarity to wear a dress too. He was sure he had some ancestors who rocked a kilt.
“Most insults are, yes. Whatever, if she doesn’t get me, all the easier to keep her away from my belt. But, if you’re looking for a change in wardrobe, I’m sure I could help. I’m seeing you in a deep blue, something like cerulean.”
A few moments pass in amicable silence as the adjustment continues.
“So, this tag match, Spencer and Lee. We definitely have the size advantage, for all that they a touch more familiarity. I think we need to have something to surprise them with. How are your kicks?”
Strick considered it for a moment, “I’d say, fair to midland,” Strick pondered, “Mostly connect. I’m not sure either of ‘em will see us from behind their phones, honestly,” he chuckled, “Not that I won’t take ‘em seriously.”
Strick considered a deep blue, but put it out of his mind. If he was going to be throwing kicks, he’d better not be wearing a skirt. There are children at the shows, afteral.
“I’m open to suggestions. Figure we could, you know, come up with a tag move or two. Something that’ll fuck ‘em up pretty good. I’m a fan of the Doomsday Device myself, how are you at throwing lariats?”
“Meh, but I’m great with leg lariats. If you can get them up, I can get them back down. Been awhile since I busted out much from the top, could be fun to start up again. Actually...on that note there is a move I’ve always wanted to steal called the Crow’s Wing. Starts with one of us getting one of them up into a powerbomb position and the other coming off the top with a side effect, just hitting both those together. And hell, worst comes to worst we can just hold hands behind the back and kick and or punch ‘til we feel we’ve done enough.”
With a last pop of gum the tailor smooths out a fold of the skirt and stands up, indicating for Johnny to go change. The American Wet Dream obliges, disappearing for a few moments, only to return in skinny jeans and a mesh tank top.
“Just want it out there, I’m looking to go all the way in this tag tourney. Also putting it out there that minus Holicraze Hell I seem to be cursed in tournies sooooo…..yeah. Here’s to breaking the curse, eh?”
Strick nodded, “I'm all for doing what they say can't be done. We'll win this thing, but first, let's win this match. Give em that Crows Wing and call it the ‘Get the Fuck outta here,” he laughed.
With that said, Strick extended his hand, intent on a handshake.
“Partners, huh?”
Johnny gives the handshake, firm but not trying to posture.
“Partners.”
-------------------------------------------------------------
“In mini skirts dancing in his high heel shoes
Drunk as a lord with a belly full of booze
He rules the floor, he's a well respected guest
And they enjoy that he loves to be crossdressed”
Fade from the music and fuschia background to the Purity, Louisiana based apartment of Johnny Raike. Since last we’ve seen the place it has been decorated and more fully furnished, though no two pieces match and likely all came from a thrift store. Posters on the wall for Rocky Horror Picture Show, To Wong Foo, and Hedwig and the Angry Inch add splashes of color on the otherwise white walls. The room is fairly neat, but for the various high heels scattered around the floor. Johnny Raike sits on a stool in the middle of the room, much like the one in his Queens garage. He’s smiling coyly, legs crossed, making it hard to notice he’s wearing short shorts but for the flash of metallic silver that occasionally reflects off the recessed lighting.
Johnny: “Hi, people! Welcome back, and forgive the mess, I’m trying to figure out what I feel like wearing to work tonight. I’ve narrowed it down to the Cleopatra wig, but can’t figure out which heels I like best with them. I’m leaning toward the electric purple stilettos, but I haven’t fully broken them in yet. And yes, I realize laboring over a shoe choice when I sit behind a counter during the pay me for a kiss part is a little petty, but then...that reeeeally shouldn’t surprise anyone who knows me.”
An ‘I am who I am’ kinda smile and raise of the eyebrows from the American Wet Dream
Johnny: “Anyhoo, while I’d love it if we were here to discuss my wardrobe and play fashion show, we’re not. I have Peeks for that anyway, though he mostly likes the changing of the clothes part of the fashion shows. And having an excuse to sing “I’m Too Sexy.” Though not well.”
Johnny, noticing himself drifting off point again, shakes his head and shivers, resetting
Johnny: Anyway...we’re here to talk about tomorrow night, the all singing, all dancing, all tagging edition of Wicked. At least one of those things was true. I haven’t really had time to choreograph anything of late, lots of travel. Being a champion in two companies comes with a lot of work. But then as has been said, the reward for work well done is more work. I think that was Tolkien, but don’t quote me and I don’t feel like googling mid-video. Perhaps vouging.”
Johnny takes a moment to strike a series of poses, using his hands to frame his face as he does, before leaning back on his stool again. His goofy, easy smile tells a different story than his usual narrowed eyes and assured smirk.
Johnny: “If I seem a little more carefree and fun than usual, well, that has a lot to do with the upcoming show. Call it my breather. Now, I don’t mean that I expect an easy day at the office tomorrow, just that I’m not defending a belt, I’m not getting ready to face someone down who’s made a point of being a dick to me, I’m not girding my loins to go out and leave half my blood soaking into the midway. That comes soon enough, I haven’t forgotten my appointment with Nova Wonder. I would say date, but I don’t want anyone thinking I want her in any way, shape, or form. Sorry, I have this thing about sticking my dick in crazy; don’t- but if you absolutely have to, make sure they don’t know your name and you don’t know theirs. But, as I said, that’s not this week. This week, tomorrow, I get to actually fight some people who don’t make me want to rip my own hair out in sheer frustration.”
A small sigh and roll of the eyes before the Panty Wearing Panty Dropper brings his high beam of a smile back.
Johnny Raike: “Kelsey Spencer and Annabel Lee. Two people who...I’m not sure how that kind of non-ironic bubbliness exists in professional wrestling. Granted, I can be just as bubbly, and I don’t just mean my butt, but at least fifteen percent of it at all times is armor. Long story short, seeing me be exuberant tended to piss off my mother and old habits die hard. But the fact is, the point I’m working toward, is that here are two people who aren’t going to feel the need to tear me down to try and look taller, to invalidate everything about who I am, who I try to be just because they can’t be fucked to take a critical look. Maybe I’m wrong, I’ve been pretty upfront about never listening to my opponent before saying what I want to say. Maybe they’ll call me a nothing, maybe they’ll ignore my very successful track record, maybe they’ll just say I look bad in a skirt. And you know what, say what you will, but leave the skirt out of this; I look damn amazing.”
A coquettish smile and wink from the Beautiful Nightmare. Johnny shifts, opening his legs wide before crossing them the other way. He smooths out his silvery shorts before continuing.
Johnny: That said, from what I’ve seen of Lee and Spencer, they aren’t the type to sit here and heap abuse, and I will return the favor. I’ve seen both girls in action; Lee is as blue chip a rookie as I’ve seen in my career, and Kelsey and I have been at this for just about the same amount of time. Factor in the cages and I get a little more time, but that really was a beast unto itself. Amusingly, pure amusingly even, our teams almost mirror each other. Johnny Raike and Kelsey Spencer, the old hands, the vets who know how to get it done. Annabel Lee and Strick Plissken, two rookies on the rise. I think the age gaps might even be similar, though in opposite directions. Compelling match making, that’s the key to success. Though, of course, only one team can actually taste success.”
Raike stops for a moment to play with his hair.
Johnny: “Now, you’re probably expecting me to talk about how it’ll be the team of Raike and Plissken that will prevail. How we’ll use our vastly superior size to our advantage, our better reach, my sex appeal and Plisskens facial hair to enthrall the crowd into lending support to us and only us. And I’d like to be able to say all those things. But Bowie’s honest? This is a first time teaming against a pair who at least has a ghost of an idea about how to work together. This is the start of a tournament. This is me remember that for all my tag team success, getting to the gold and then keeping it has always seemed to be just out of my reach.”
The light of the Thigh High Thriller’s smile drops a bit.
Johnny Raike: “You’ve heard before about the curse. How I have a history of snatching at the brass ring, but never quite getting the full lick. I am Titan of the Midway of course, not trying to deny that or what it means, but when we sit down for a tournament? Things seems to go somewhat sideways. Well, when gold is on the line; bragging rights I do real damn well at. But, as we see, this one is for gold. Tag Team gold. Something I’ve held before, but in a very odd situation. And, seeing a chance to have the belts more conventionally, I really want them. But I’d be lying if I said I was certain of my victory. Because those ladies are going to be bringing it to us, I know that. I doubt they want this any less; in a very real sense they have more to prove than I do. I have my gold, I’ve made my mark. I want more, of course, but who knows, maybe it’s all the fuel they’ll need. So, I won’t sit here and talk about what an uphill battle it is to beat Johnny Raike and Strick Plissken. Because as far as I’m concerned, it is me staring up the hill, preparing to climb. It’s me who has to push a step further than I think I can go. So, Kelsey, Annabel, I’m coming for you. Hard as I can, focused and ready to fight. No tricks, no scheming, just the Brutiful One with something to prove.”
Johnny rolls his neck with a loud crack, then makes a weird face.
Johnny: Gah, that felt weird. Anyway, my faeries, freaks, and fuckbois, I can’t wait to be in front of you all again. Can’t wait to find out what it feels like to fight in my new skirt, and I’m betting quite a few of you are waiting to see the upskirt. Don’t get too terribly excited, there is a modesty piece. Something has to keep the boys in place. And I can’t, can’t, can’t wait to actually fight in front of a Pure Amusement crowd again. It’s been too long, darlings. But the wait is almost over.”
Johnny blows a kiss to the camera before giving his little finger wave, screen fading to black.
|
|
|
|
Post by Annabel Lee on Aug 4, 2016 3:54:51 GMT
It was many and many a year ago,
In a kingdom by the sea,
That a maiden there lived whom you may know
By the name of Annabel Lee
• • • Annabel stared at herself in the mirror after wiping off a spot with the hand towel provided by the hotel. The reflective surface was still mostly fogged up from the shower she had just taken. She was no stranger to bruises of course but she was a little startled by the woman looking back at her. The dark circle under one eye was expected since she hadn't got to sleep until late but the big dark mark around the other was worse than she thought it would be.
The swelling was minimal at least. She'd had the foresight to buy one of those dorky gel sleep masks on her way to the hotel and chill it in the ice bucket before bed. She sighed softly and turned her face a little more toward the mirror, leaning in so that she could inspect herself. It wasn't that bad all things considered, or so she tried to convince herself. She most certainly wasn't going to let her father see though. Not Az either if she got to see him soon.
“That's silly,” her conscience told her. “Az knows all about wrestling, he would understand. He thinks we're pretty when we have bed head and marks from the pillow all over our face. He wouldn't care about some dumb bruises.” Of course she knew that. “And how many black eyes did Daddy have over the years? He knows too.” But it was different because she was his Princess and she didn't want him to know what had happened after the match.
She squared her shoulders at her reflection and gave herself a nod at some silent thought before walking out of the room still wrapped in her towel. By the time she returned, dressed in her favorite pair of jeans and a dark grey Team Mystic t-shirt, the mirror had finished unfogging. She set a large, round canvas case down on the counter and latched the buckle on the front, unrolling it across the smooth surface.
Primer, concealer, foundation, powder, several brushes of varying sizes, and finishing spray were all plucked from their places in the kit and laid out in precise order. Makeup was her second favorite area of theater next to costuming so she had spent a lot of time studying it while getting her degree. “Glad Daddy made us go to college now, aren't we?” Her father was always right, of course. All that experience and practice was going to come in handy right now.
A soft hiss escaped Annabel's lips as she rubbed in the primer and began to dab on the concealer with a brush around her bruised eye. She had to pause to catch a few tears with a clean sponge when the stinging made her eye water. “We can so do this. We've had way worse. Remember that time we had dislocated finger?” The thought alone made her shudder. Soon enough she was accustomed to the pain and continued to work without anymore interruptions.
By the time she had finished she was confident that she looked right as rain. Maybe there was a tiny hint of the bruising underneath at the edge of her eye shadow but someone would have to look real close to notice. If they were that close to her face there would be other things to worry about anyway!
When she looked at her watch she gave a little shriek out loud, “Oh shit!” She didn't have time to cover her mouth and chide herself about the curse as she dashed back into the hotel room. She did put a quarter in her swear jar before tossing it into her suitcase though. Everything was very hastily shoved into her bags in no particular order.
After scouring the room once to be certain that she hadn't left anything behind, she hurried out into the hall. She raced down the stairs with the staccato hammering of footsteps echoing all the way to the lobby instead of waiting on the elevator. As she waited at the desk to check out she shifted back and forth from one foot to the other, trying super hard not to look impatient but unable to stop thinking about every minute she was losing. She wasn't about to miss her flight home for the second show in a row!
By the time she was heaving herself and her bags into the back seat of the taxi she flagged down she was crossing her fingers that the driver knew some shortcuts to the airport. It seemed so far away! When he lurched away from the curb she quickly put her seatbelt on. As it became more and more evident that the man wasn't going to strike up a conversation with her, Annabel pulled out her phone.
Her cheeks got warm and she felt her heart get all quivery in a way that had nothing to do with the bit of running she had just done. Her thumb hovered over the name for just a few more moments before she finally sent the call. She held her breath as it rang once... ...twice... ...there was the click. She didn't give him time to greet her. “Hey Fuzzy.”
Az sounded tired on the other end of the line. It was only a little after six on the east coast. Oops. “What up dollface?” She heard him stretching on the other end of the line and yawning away from the phone.
“Did I wake you up? I’m sorry I didn’t think about the time. I’m on my way to the airport to head back to Portland and I just wanted to hear your voice.”
“Shit, it's all good. If I gotta be up, at least it's to your voice. Better than random people knocking wantin’ to sell something.”
She was still blushing despite the fact that there was no way he could see the giddy look on her face. “Just tell them all your money is in your swear jar. How are you?”
“I'm good… might feel a bit empty, but I'll be a'ight until I see you again. Just gotta keep my mind on other things to keep me ready.” She heard Az sigh a bit, showing a more sentimental side that few people ever got to see from him.
The comment made Annabel want to smile and frown all at the same time. It was a relief to know that he was feeling the same way but at the same time she wished that they weren’t both having to miss each other. “Think about your match on Sunday. Gotta focus on that. You’re going to do great I know it. I’ll be watching for sure.”
“And I'll be fighting like you're watching. You know that extra support gets me on a new level. Gotta put it down and make people proud.”
“Aww Fuzzy I’m always proud of you. You’ve been so amazing since your very first match and you just keep getting better. I love watching you.” Annabel could feel the annoyed look the driver shot her way in the rear view mirror but she ignored it. “I just wish I could be there to watch in person. But definitely the next one! I’ll do whatever I have to do to be there.”
“You do what you gotta do, dollface. If you can't make it that's okay.”
“I know but I really want to be there.” She fidgeted in the seat, trying to get the seat belt to stop rubbing against her collar bone. “It feels like forever since I got to see your face.”
“I know what you mean babes. AC isn't as bright without your smile here to light it up.”
She wondered if he wasn't trying to make her blush on purpose even if he couldn't see it. “I already sent you an unedited copy of the Wicked 15 DVD so you can watch the show.”
“Can't wait. How'd you do?”
“We won!”
“That's my girl! We'll celebrate next time we're together. Ice cream, umbrella drinks, whatever you want.”
The thought made Annabel feel all fuzzy inside. “We can celebrate for both of us. We'll celebrate your win that you're going to get this week against Shaw and then we'll celebrate after the match against who ever they have you wrestle next. I know you'll beat them both!”
“Damn straight! I've got my eyes on that Championship and nothing is going to stop me.”
He sounded so determined. She could picture the look on his face perfectly. “Maybe soon we'll both have a Championship!”
“No maybe about it. You and Kels are gonna light it up and knock 'em down until you're Tag Team Champions. Gon' be the prettiest Champions PAW has ever seen. Not like Pug-Mug and Jonny Waif.”
“Az!” She had to cover her mouth after the admonishment as she burst into a fit of giggles.
“What? It's true.”
“That's not very nice.”
“Still true. Every bit of it. You've got the fire, babes. You're going to be a Champion some day. Sooner than later.”
“Thanks Fuzzy. It means a lot to hear you say it.” Her smile turned upside down for a moment as she saw the airport up ahead. “I really miss you Az. I'm sorry I woke you up but I wanted to talk to you real quick before I got on the plane.”
“No worries, you can wake me up anytime. Call me when you get to your layover, a'ight?”
“Sure thing.”
“And don't catch anymore Pokémon without me. You gotta let me catch up.”
She gave a little laugh. He was trying to cheer her up, she could tell, and it was super sweet of him. “I'll try not to. I gotta go now, we're at the airport. Miss you.”
“Miss you more.”
“Miss you most.” There was a sudden ache in her heart as Annabel hung up. The emotion hit her all at once just as the taxi was pulling up at the curb. She tried to blink back the unexpected tears but she was soon having to wipe them away with the back of her hand. She wanted her ticket to take her up to Atlantic City.
She wanted to forget the rest of the world existed for a while and just enjoy Az's company. His unique style was so different from everything she was used to. His spontaneous nature and ability to surprise her was refreshing. Everything about him made her get butterflies in her tummy and smile until her cheeks ached.
But her ticket wasn't for Atlantic City. United Airlines was going to take her from Baton Rouge to Houston, and then Houston up to Portland. She was going home where she had to go over the match with her father and analyze her mistakes and where to improve. She was going back to her training regimen and meal plans and routine.
For just a moment... a breath, a blink, a heartbeat, the flap of a hummingbird's wings... she hated it.• • • Dear Diary,
My first tag team match ever and my first tag team win, can you believe it?! I never ever expected things to go so well so fast as soon as my professional career started. I know that some people say it means I'm going to be just a flash in the pan and that I'll burn bright but burnout fast. Heck, I know how many times me and Daddy saw it happen while he was wrestling. But that's not going to be me.
I know eventually that I will have my first loss. It's going to happen at some point. No one wins forever. I know that it'll hurt a little too when it happens, but I'll be okay when it does. Between you and me I'm a little surprised it hasn't happened already. I felt so overwhelmed the first time I stepped in the ring for PAW that by the time the match was over I didn't even realize I had won.
Part of me knew that I was ready, but I didn't feel ready when I saw all those people around me. All those years on the road with Daddy, all the lessons he taught me, all the time in the gym, all the time at wrestling school... it was like it all disappeared when the bell rang. I didn't forget what I had learned or anything but it was like I forgot that I knew all of that and still had it all inside of me.
I think Kelsey is like that right now. I think she's forgotten all that she has inside of her. She's amazing and talented and she has all of this knowledge inside of her but she doesn't have as much confidence in herself as she should. I don't know where it went, but by gosh I'm going to help her find it! Someone so good shouldn't doubt themselves!
Her career started long before mine but I almost think that she believes I am better than she is. How silly is that?! She has loads more experience, and experience is invaluable. There is still so much I can learn from her when we train together. She has so much patience too! She'll show me stuff over and over again until I get it down, no matter how many times I ask.
Her Mom is a super sweet lady too, just like Kelsey. It really bugs me to know what they went through. It bugs me knowing what happened to her poor Mom because of some jerk in another company. I've got to admit though, when I first saw her Mom's face and I thought it might have been her Dad... Man I've never felt that angry before! I was still angry when I found out what had really happened, but it wasn't as bad for some reason.
Kelsey and her Mom both deserve better. I wish there was something I could do for the two of them, but I don't know if they would accept. Kelsey's a lot like me when it comes to that stuff I think. She's proud, and she wants to earn things for herself. But... she's family now, you know? She's like my sister, and you're supposed to take care of family. I don't really know what to do, and I don't know how to talk to her about it.
I'll really have to think about it I guess and see if I can come up with anything. Right now we're both super focused on the next Wicked show. We've got the biggest challenge ever ahead of us. I'm not sure what we did but Karma really did hand us the short straw, huh? I would have picked pretty much any other team than Strick and Johnny Raike if I had the chance. I bet all the other teams gave a big sigh of relief when they saw it was me and Kelsey having to take them on, and I can't even blame them!
On top of that, I don't even know if we have to worry about those dumb jerks Mercy and Sin again. If we do at least Kelsey and I won't be caught off guard again. We know those two are looking at us for some reason, and they aren't going to have the chance to get a sneak attack in again. No way. If they think we won't fight back, they've got another thing coming.
I eventually talked to Daddy about it. I'm so bad at keeping secrets and he always finds out anyway. I didn't show him my face though. I think we'd better just keep that between us. I'd probably look pretty tough running around with a black eye though, right?! Man I bet the neighbors would stare something fierce!
Mercy and Sin though? I'm not really worried about them. They made a big mistake when they came after me and Kelsey after our match. They probably thought they were making a big entrance. They probably thought they were putting the whole roster on notice or something and showing how big and bad they think they are.
But the truth is they're just a pair of cowards. They were too insecure to make their debut in the ring because they were afraid they wouldn't win and it would make them look bad. Just think about that. They were too afraid to wrestle. They weren't willing to count on their own skills being enough to make their first appearance memorable, and that's just sad.
They were so afraid that they looked at the whole roster and they picked me and Kelsey, probably thinking that we wouldn't fight back or try to get revenge. They were even so worried about what Kelsey and I can do that they had to wait until after our match when we were already tired and banged up because they didn't want to have to actually fight us.
I'm definitely not worried about a couple of people that are too afraid to wrestle. I'm not going to lose any sleep over them when they doubt themselves that bad. I'm not afraid to go up against Strike and Johnny Raike, but they were scared of me and Kelsey fighting back. If they don't believe in what they can do, why should anyone else? Why should I?
Daddy always said that no one else is going to believe in you if you don't believe in yourself. Well I believe in myself. I surprised myself in my first few matches for sure. I did even more than I thought I could. I know that I have what it takes to face whatever challenges come my way. I already know what those challenges are at the next show. I know that it's going to be super tough to overcome them, but I know that I can do it.Always,
A • • • After turning on the camera, Annabel walked back around into the frame to sit down on the stool that was waiting there. It was the very same spot where she had filmed her audition video for PAW two months or so ago now. It didn't seem like it had been so long but at the same time it felt like forever ago. So much had happened since then.
“Hey there everyone,” she waved along with the greeting. “Another match has gone by and another one is coming up fast. I swear those two weeks go by so quickly I hardly have the chance to recover. It's tough sometimes, but I'm still loving every minute of it.”
She scooted back on the stool a bit and hooked the heels of her ankle boots on the rung at the bottom so her feet weren't swinging back and forth. “Kelsey and I did what a lot of people thought we couldn't do when we beat Adam Wolfe and Mikhail. People called it an upset or said we did the impossible but that's not really true. Kelsey and I never thought that we couldn't win.
“I trusted her and she trusted me. She was there when I needed her and I was there for her when I could tell she needed a break. We worked like a team. We anticipated each other. The whole thing was amazing!” Her cheeks darkened just a bit as she reigned in her rambling. “I guess the point I was trying to make there is that we have something special. We clicked in a way that I didn't think would happen for a few matches.”
She laced her fingers together so that they would stop fidgeting. “I guess a lot of things are coming pretty quick since I started wrestling. Sometimes it leaves my head spinning, but there's nowhere else I would rather be. For every part of it that hurts there is something great. For everything I have to sacrifice there is something in reward.
“It's not easy. It's really not. I had a few hard days over these last weeks but as soon as I thought about getting back in the ring in front of a PAW crowd they weren't so hard anymore.” Her smile had been small up until now. It brightened at the though of the crowd in question. This time, like the last time, it would be in a different place and not the Pure Arena. That in and of itself was exciting.
“I'm not gonna lie to anyone, I sure was intimidated when I heard who Kelsey and I are up against at this show. Strick Plissken and Johnny Raike. Whew! Strick, the guy who beat Nova Wonder, who won the sixteen person Battle Royal the night I debuted for a shot at the Titan of the Midway Championship that Johnny Raike himself holds.” Annabel held her arms out to the side for a moment. What else needed saying about the mountain that stood in front of her and Kelsey?
“At first I almost had to wonder if Kelsey and I had done something wrong. Had we stepped on some toes or said the wrong thing to the wrong people? Were we being punished by being set up against those two?” One shoulder lifted in a half shrug to punctuate the question before her hands dropped back into her lap.
“But the more I thought about it the more I started to think that maybe that wasn't it. Maybe it wasn't a punishment at all. Maybe it was actually a reward. Kelsey and I weren't being set up to lose. Instead the people running PAW thought so highly of us that out of everyone on the roster they chose us to go up against such an incredible team!
“They didn't choose the mimes or the carnies. They didn't choose Mercy and Sin. Heck, they didn't even choose the BombTrax with the Heavyweight Champion himself! They chose Kelsey and me even though we only had one tag match before and this is only going to be my fourth match ever because after the last show they saw something in us.” Her tone dipped just a bit and the color in her cheeks renewed. “That is very encouraging and also very humbling.”
Her eyes wandered from the camera to something behind it for a moment. Unbeknownst to viewers she was looking over one of her father's old title belts. She put on a fake little southern accent as she spoke again, “I'm confident in myself because Daddy didn't raise no shrinking violet.” Giggles broke through quickly. She couldn't maintain the southern belle for long. “But I know that having three matches under my belt still makes me a rookie. I know that there is more to learn out there than I can even guess. I know I'm not the best
“But I know that I am getting better. With each match I learn something new. Every time my boots touch the ring I find a new way of doing things. Each opponent I have to face teaches me something. Roy Baker, Rachel Ellsworth, and Adam and Mikhail all taught me loads. Mr. Strick and Mr. Raike are going to teach me a lot too.” Her high ponytail bounced a few times as she nodded along with her words. “The thing is... I think that Kelsey and I are going to teach Strick and Johnny something too.”
The excitement was starting to get to her. She wanted to stand up and move around but she knew that if she left the stool she wouldn't be on her mark and the shot would get blurry. After a bit of fidgeting she settled in again. “Johnny is good, real good. He has to be to be the Titan of the Midway. He got there because he earned it and I'm not about to say otherwise.
“Strick has earned his reputation as one tough dude too. I can't honestly say that I really know what happened at the last show with him wrestling Sasquatch, but he did it, and he won. He also beat Nova Wonder and lotsa people didn't think he could. He proved all those doubters wrong.
“Kelsey and I are going to prove our doubters wrong too. They think that with as green as I am and as fresh as we are as a team that Kelsey and I don't have a chance against a champion and that tough dude. The secret is that there is always a chance. Just like there was the chance for Strike to beat Nova there is a chance for us to beat those two and it's not as small as it seems.”
Annabel's shoulders squared and her chin tilted up subconsciously as her own words bolstered her. “I know Kelsey already said it, but she's right. Johnny and Strick are two guys working together to go after the gold, but Kelsey and I are a team. She and I were paired up unexpectedly but we embraced it. We trained together. We found out how good we were together and it made us hungry for more.
“We decided to stick with being partners before we knew that we were going to be made a part of this Turmoil thing. We didn't become a team because we wanted titles. We became a team because we wanted to be a team. We want to work together. We see eye to eye. Our first goal has already been achieved. We know what we can do together.”
With every passing second she grew more excited. So much so that her hands were shaking a bit where they rested in her lap. “Everyone already knows that Strick Plissken is good, just like they know that Johnny Raike is good. Whether or not Strick and Johnny are good together is still a mystery though.
“On the other hand there is no mystery with Kelsey and me. We've proven that we are good together. Taking down Adam Wolfe and Mikhail was no easy task, but we found a way. We're going to find a way to take down Johnny Raike and Strick Plissken too. It's not going to be easy. It's going to hurt and it's going to leave bruises for days.
“It's a guarantee that Kelsey and I will never forget the time they stepped into the ring with Strick and Johnny. But I think no one is ever going to forget the time that Kelsey Spencer and Annabel Lee shocked the world when they took down the Titan of the Midway and his partner either. I know we can do it. I know we have what it takes.
“It's okay that not everyone else knows it. It's okay that some people still doubt us. Kelsey and I are willing to show everyone. We're willing to work hard over and over again until everyone knows. We believe in us. Soon everyone else is going to believe in us too.” Annabel blew a kiss to the camera before finally hopping off of the stool. Just before the recording ended a faint, “That was pretty good,” could be heard.• • • I could bore you with the details. I could tell you that the part in her hair was uneven and one pigtail was sightly higher than the other. I could tell you that her teddy bear's eye had once clearly come off and been sewn back on by someone with only moderate skill. I could tell you about the scuff marks on the toes of her little red Mary Janes from skipping rope.
Every detail is an important one. From her little white tights and blue gingham dress to the way her feet swayed back and forth in time with the way her head tilted side to side. But the true beauty of the scene was this child laying atop her blanket on her belly in the middle of a grunting, sweat-filled gym, insisting that Corduroy have the last cup of tea because he was her guest. Alone with a stuffed animal, with nobody watching and nobody telling her to be polite, yet there she was, entirely selfless.
Annabel wiped away the tear running over her cheek as she carefully closed the old leather bound journal. She had found it almost as soon as she had stopped recording her last promotional spot before Wicked 15. She had been about to leave the abandoned gym behind when it caught her eye. How long had it been there? Had anyone else read it? How had it survived the water damage and the rodents and the bugs?
She looked over to Corduroy Bear where he leaned against the pillows on her bed. His eye was tilted just a bit, like it had been for almost two decades now. His fur was a little matted, his stuffing a little collapsed. There had been so many times that she had almost decided it was time to let him go, but each and every one of them she just couldn't do it. There were too many memories of too many adventures with Corduroy.
One of them had been that day when she had started the morning dressed like Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz. She remembered toting the blanket and her bear around in a little picnic basket and pretending he was Toto. She remembered losing interest in being Dorothy when they got to the gym and having a tea party instead. She even remembered offering him up the last cup of tea.
Her eyes turned back down to the journal. Butch's journal. Who was the old man? Why had he watched her? What about her, of all people, had struck him so much that he decided to write in his journal about her all those years ago? Who still paid for the gym even though Butch had Alzheimer's and didn't leave his hospital bed?
She had to know.• • •
For the moon never beams, without bringing me dreams
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And the stars never rise, but I feel the bright eyes
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee |
|
