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Post by The BombTrax on Aug 5, 2016 4:59:06 GMT
One (1) Role Play Max
Final Role Play Deadline: Wednesday August 17th, 2016 @ 10:59 PM CST
Segment Deadline: Tuesday, August 16th, 2016 @ 11:59 PM CST
Tag Team Match
(The winner of this match will star in the first ever ADDICTION Main Event in a Fatal Four Way)
Annabel Lee & Kelsey Spencer versus Anastasia Hayden & Caroline O'Hara Burchill
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Post by Kelsey Spencer on Aug 17, 2016 8:39:19 GMT
“Come on, Masson… Open your eyes! This isn't funny anymore…
…
Masson!!”
I wake with a start - another flashback. Why do I keep seeing these images of my brother’s death..? It was years ago, why is it just now coming back to haunt me? I want to go back to sleep, but I can't - I'm scared of my thoughts. My brain keeps taking me to horrible memories from my past, with bizarre twists to them. Yes, I saw my brother’s untimely demise, but it was from a distance; not only that, I ran away straight after it happened. So why is it that in these nightmares, I’m seeing who shot him and interacting with him moments before he dies?
Papa John’s Pizza - Louisiana August 11, 2016 1:30 pm
“You ready for your first shift, kid?” Stuart’s bellowing voice echoed throughout his tiny office.
“You bet, sir!” I stand tall and proud, donning the Papa John’s uniform. The day has finally come where I make my first honest dollar - in the conventional sense, I mean. Pro wrestling’s honest work, don’t get me wrong, but I see it more as an unstable source of income; similar to a session musician’s wages, I guess. If you’re not up to speed with what’s been going on in my life, what I’ve been earning as an exclusive talent for PAW hasn’t been covering my current expenses, so I really had no choice but to find another way to earn some extra cash. I originally applied for the role of kitchenhand, but got turned down for having no experience - one grovelling session later, and I’m Papa John’s newest delivery girl.
Stuart takes an inspecting glance at my outfit and frowns. “Clean yourself up, rookie.”
“What’s wrong with this?” I question, shrugging my shoulders as I take a look at my uniform.
“Tuck in that shirt, tie up your hair; you’re representing my store when you leave this building!”
Gosh, I didn’t realise there was so much to the presentation of people who deliver pizzas... Usually I just give them their cash, they give me my pizza and they’re off on their way - I don’t even pay attention to what they’re wearing, or how they wear it, for that matter.
“So when’s my first delivery?” I ask, tying my messy, unmanageable hair into the best ponytail I possibly can.
“Here’s the address,” he hands me a sheet of paper. “Put it into the GPS, it’ll show you the quickest route. Get the order, deliver it as quickly as you can and get back here to do it all over again.” I turn to leave, and he clears his throat. “Forgetting something?”
“Uhh..?”
“Your nametag.”
People who deliver pizzas have nametags? I guess I never really thought to research that… I approach the desk, glance at the nametag before me, and look back at Stuart with squinted eyes. “This says Sophie?”
“She was the last girl to have this job; I haven’t made you a nametag, you have to earn the right.” He claps his hands together three times, causing me to jump four feet in the air. “Go, go! Time is money!”
I hastily make my way to collect the order from the kitchen; as I enter, I’m met with several teenage faces glancing over at me. After awkward silence, I raise the ticket with the order details on it.
“I, uhh… Have a delivery to make..?”
Nothing but more awkward silence follows for what feels like an eternity, until the young man closest to me speaks up.
“Hold on… Are you Kelsey Spencer?” I nod for confirmation; I guess the locals know me. He walks over and forcefully shakes my hand. “I’m a big fan of yours! I go to almost every WICKED taping, when they’re here!”
“Oh, that’s great, but umm… The order..?”
“Hey, can I ask you for advice on something?”
I know I’m supposed to be in a hurry, but I can’t go past helping someone in anyway I can - especially a fan. “What is it?” I ask, managing the bag of pizzas in one hand.
“Can you tell me exactly what you did to get to this point in your life, so I don’t make the same mistakes?” He turns to the other workers, and they all share a hysterical laugh. He looks back to me and concludes, “If I was almost 30 and delivering pizzas for a living, I’d shoot myself!”
I don’t respond. Instead, I’m out the door and in my car as quickly as possible. Is this all I am to everyone? A joke? Practically none of my peers take me seriously, including those in PAW. If you gave me a pad and pen and asked me to write how I wanted my life to go, this would be the exact opposite.
The next four hours are brutal; nobody is grateful to get their pizza pie; everyone has a problem with how long the delivery took, or they didn’t want extra cheese on their pizza… As if I control the traffic lights and how the kitchen hands actually make everything. When I signed up for this job, I expected it to be a little more rewarding - I guess more like Santa giving kids presents in the lead-up to Christmas - but instead, I’ve just been met with poor manners and abuse. I dunno why everyone’s always in such a bad mood, but I wish I could figure it out… Maybe I could make a few of them smile.
I trudge into the store, shoulders slumped, exhausted from running all over town all day. I take “my” name badge off and get ready to end my shift - before I can remove my cap, I feel a masculine hand upon mine - it’s Stuart, preventing me from taking the hat off. “Is...something up?” I question, confused.
“Your shift isn’t over, you’ve still got one more delivery to make.”
Great. I get to be verbally degraded by another unhappy customer. I gather up the single pizza, and glance at the ticket Stuart hands me on his way out of the door - “Extra pineapple, go easy on the grease” is under order instructions. Hmm, where have I heard that before..? That isn’t the only thing that catches my eye - further down the ticket, it has the delivery address - it’s my address! Same apartment number and everything! Is this some kind of joke? I guess the only way to get to the bottom of this is to make the delivery...to my own apartment.
My Apartment August 11, 2016 6:08 pm
A short drive later, I reach for my keys to unlock my apartment front door - but I glance down and notice the door’s not even shut properly. This is probably the point where people would be freaking out that someone has busted into their home, but I already know there’s not really anything valuable for them to steal in there.
I creak the door open, poking my head in for a second. As I walk in, trying to avoid the scattered trash and clothes - don’t worry, those were there before the break-in - I’m met with a familiar face as I round the corner into the main living area.
“Rebecca? What’re you doing here?”
“Risking an infectious disease to speak with you in person, it seems,” she flares her nostrils, inspecting my apartment with a look of disgust.
Rebecca Saint is my ultimate rival in wrestling - we first met back in Australia in 2011, for a promotion named FBW. She was the FBW Star Champion - going by the name Becky Saint at the time - and I was brought in to wrestle her for one night only. She wrestled circles around me, defeating me without even breaking a sweat. We became friends after the match, but our next encounter wouldn’t take place until 2014 in Down Under Wrestling - she had developed a sense of insecurity that I was trying to take her spot, so we faced off in a 60-Minute Iron Maiden Match (which didn’t take place 2 Minutes To Midnight, before you make that joke) and I won to become DUW Women’s Champion. I loved that title dearly, defending it valiantly against a vast array of challengers.
As you’d expect, fate would have Rebecca defeat me almost a full year later to take the title back. Speaking of “fate”... VoW Fate of the Gods II was the home to our fourth (and, to date, final) match, where I blacked out and apparently beat Rebecca to a bloody pulp. I don’t remember too much about that match, just what people have told me after it happened… I’ve held off watching it back, I’m scared of what I might see myself do.
We haven’t actually spoken to each other since that match, for obvious reasons. I tried to mend the fences over Twitter - I really, truly, honestly wanted to try and be her friend again - but seeing her in person makes my stomach unsettled. I’m a little skeptical, to say the least.
“What are you really doing here?” I question, taking a seat on the couch side table.
“I wanted to catch up and see how you’re doing,” she replies, with a modest cough and her hand on her chest. Her eyes scan the room with furled eyebrows. “The black mould on the ceiling and walls of this place tells me...not so good. That pile of dirty laundry looks and smells like it’s been left there for quite some time. I’m also willing to bet there isn’t a lot of food in your pantry…”
“Did you just come here to rub this in? This is my life, okay?!” I snap at her, standing in my place. Her eyes widen as I start pacing back and forth in front of her. “Do you think I’m proud of this? I’m pretty much living in a storage unit that's covered in mould and infested with roaches! I can't afford anything decent to eat, I can't get hot water…”
“I understand,” she states, which just sends me further off the handle.
“Yeah, right!” I scoff, getting that trembling feeling I often suffer when I lose my cool. “A socialite like you? Drinking your Diamond Water out on your yacht… There's no way you know what it's like to have nothing!” I turn my back to her with arms folded; quickly realising what I've done, I glance over my shoulder to make sure she doesn't get in a cheap shot - she doesn't make any sudden moves, instead resting her head in her hand.
“People aren't always as they seem,” she speaks up.
“Yeah, well I know that now,” I bluntly respond, referring to her treachery. I put my trust in her and she stabbed me in the back, tried to end my career and ruin my life. I'm sure anyone else would've called the cops or thrown her out at the very sight of her… I guess I just like to believe there's a little good in everyone.
I flinch as I feel her hand resting on my shoulder. “Let me help you,” she whispers.
I pull away, turning to face her. “Are you serious? You remember what happened the last time I let you help me?! You beat up my mum and destroyed my grandparents’ graves!”
“I've done things I'm not proud of, but...haven't we all?”
She’s got a point. There’s countless moments in my life I wish I had the chance to do over, make things happen differently. But at the same time, she tried to ruin my life; she's the reason my mum is in the condition she's in. Does she deserve a second chance? What's stopping her from doing it again?
“How about this… Come over to my place, I can treat you to a home-cooked meal, and we can talk. How does that sound?” I let my guard down momentarily; obviously I’m hesitant, but the thought of a nice meal is too enticing. I loosen my folded arms and nod slightly, bringing a smirk to her face. “Great. How’s tomorrow night for you?”
“Oh, well actually, I’ve got another pizza shift tomorrow night…”
“Day after?”
“Yeah, that works.”
“Awesome,” she comments. “I’ll see you then.” She pivots on the spot and showing herself the door without incident. That was...odd. Was it such a good idea to meet with Rebecca? I guess we’ll find out in a couple of days…
(Note: This was Part 1 of a two part CD collaboration with Rebecca Saint. You can check out Part 2 in Rebecca’s VoW RP here.)
An Undisclosed Location August 16, 2016
Alone in a darkened room, I’m sitting on a box with my legs spread apart, elbows and forearms resting on my knees with my head hung low. My clothes are drenched in sweat, practically sticking to my body - they haven’t been washed in a few days, so they’re emitting a disgusting and foul odour. My only solace is smell-o-vision isn’t a thing yet.
With the camera fixed squarely on me, I start to verbalise my thoughts.
“My mum was so looking forward to coming out and seeing me wrestle live. I had everything all planned; Bad Moon Rising was gonna be the first time she’d actually be there to see me wrestle in person - she’s only ever seen tapes of mine, PAW DVD releases, and the like. I was gonna make this the biggest week of her life!”
I raise my heavy head to glance at the camera.
“But because of my carelessness, I can no longer afford to fly my mum out here to watch me at Bad Moon Rising. She has to settle for staying on her couch in Baltimore to watch me on pay-per-view, doing something I'm not sure I've still got what it takes to do. I was in a pretty sweet spot; I was wrestling for two major promotions, doing some indy shows on the side - I wasn’t earning retirement money, but I was able to make ends meet quite easily. I requested my release from the other company, and I’ve soon come to realise that my current position here in PAW isn’t going to cut it…
This past fortnight has been a real hit to my confidence. I went from being close to on top of the world, to questioning if I can still wrestle at the same level I once did. I mean, I pretty much messed up the best opportunity I’ve had when I ate the pin in that tag team match - not just that, but I’m the reason Anna suffered her first loss in professional wrestling. Typically, wrestlers don’t just forgive that sorta thing; from my experiences, they seem to hold a grudge, bide their time and then strike to get their revenge when they deem it to be fit. I guess that’s what people mean when they say “You never forget your first time”, though I can only assume…”
I pause for a moment, staring at the ground. I clench my fist just a little bit and scrunch up my nose to relieve an itch, before turning back to the camera.
“Annabel’s not like that, though,” I state with confidence and poise. “Even after everything that’s happened - the way I let her down with that misguided clothesline and costing us a chance at the PAW Tag Team Titles - she still believes in me. Normally, I’d go through the same patterns I always do, but that girl still thinks I’m amazing - she pretty much idolises me, like I’m some kind of big sister to her - and I don’t understand why…”
I bring my balled fist up to my chest and smirk.
“But just because I don’t understand it, that doesn’t mean I can’t dig deep and fight for her! We may not be in the match we set our sights on, but that dark cloud that’s been hovering over my head has a silver-lining - we’ve still got a spot on the show… We still get to wrestle at Bad Moon Rising! We get the chance to prove to the fans, our opponents and ourselves that we belong; we deserve to be here.
I can already tell that this match isn’t gonna be your run-of-the-mill wrestling match… Not if Anastasia’s got anything to say about it. You know, I'm very quickly learning that PAW is filled with a lot of not-so-nice people; it seems to me that the majority of the locker room is just looking for a fight. I was naive to think otherwise - everywhere I've ever wrestled, there's always been a handful of people who have no interest in the spirit of fair competition. All they want is to hurt people; they wanna get to the top, bask in the fame and fortune, leaving broken bodies in their wake.”
I cough to clear my throat, and get a disgusting taste in my mouth; I’m convinced that my lungs are filled with mould spores from my filthy apartment.
“I've seen it for years, and it's all the same; dastardly, treacherous people who only care about what's best for themselves. Anastasia and Caroline strike me as those type of people. Annabel showed me the value of watching matches - it’s just as important as physically training, you know. I’ve gone back and watched Anastasia’s debut match here in PAW several times after learning about this upcoming match, and I’ve gotta tell you… Somehow, it gets more impressive each time. She’s been wrestling for what, six months? To come into PAW and make a splash by winning a Five Way Match against debuting wrestlers of that caliber…”
I run my hand through my hair before tugging at an imaginary hat.
“...If I were wearing a hat right now, I’d be tipping it to you, Anastasia. I can respect you as a competitor - you and Caroline, in fact - you made a great first impression as a team at Wicked #16; the same show I’d sooner forget.”
I raise a single finger.
“But the thing is, Anastasia… You’ve gotta have eyes in the back of your head in this one. Caroline O’Hara Burchill reminds me of someone I used to be a team with, by the name of Rebecca Saint.”
I stroke my chin, resting my hand back on my knee and sitting up straight, removing the hunch from my back.
“Rebecca and I go way back - back to when we met in 2011. We went to war with each other over in Australia, and when we were both signed to our first US promotion, we put our differences aside to form an alliance. But you see, the thing is, Rebecca knows what she wants - and she’ll do whatever she needs to in order to get it. She used me as a tool to get her foot in the door over here in the States, and I went along with it because I didn’t know any better; her ability to manipulate people around her is unlike any I’ve ever come across.
Do you know what happened at the first sign of me letting Rebecca down, Anastasia? She stabbed me in the back; she tossed me aside like refuse, blaming me for her shortcomings, and I’m afraid that’s what may happen to you if you outshine her in this match or cost her a loss.”
I clear my throat, once again tasting the bitter taste of mould.
“The big difference between Rebecca and Caroline seems to be that while Rebecca had a high opinion of herself, she knew her limits. I hope this isn’t considered presumptuous in any way, Caroline, but the way you carry yourself gives me the impression that you believe you’re the greatest wrestler ever; with a wealth more experience than you, I kinda feel it’s my responsibility to tell you right now that you’re not. There are many, many others out there who believe the same thing you do, and you can’t all be right. Thing is Caroline, you’ve gotta prove yourself before you can have any legitimate claim to be the greatest.”
I extend my arm, metaphorically motioning toward the fans.
“...You’ve gotta prove it to them! They’re the reason we do this, and I know what I’m about to say isn’t gonna mean a whole lot to you, but the fans are the foundation of this business. That’s why I go outta my way every match to give them a good show; because I want them to go home happy. When you cheat to get ahead, you’re robbing them of potential magic moments that can alter a young fan’s life.”
I place my hand over my heart.
“I’m living proof of a young fan’s life being changed by a spectacular match. If someone had cheated, I’m not sure if I would’ve taken to this sport the way I did… I may not even be here.”
I sigh, placing both hands back on my knees.
“At the end of the day, girls… What I’m saying is I’ve seen your kind before, and I know how to deal with you. Annabel’s already shown she can adapt to her opponents, if the situation calls for it. We’ve tasted sweet victory as a tag team - just as the pair of you have - but we’ve also tasted bitter defeat in PAW, which is something the pair of you have never experienced as a team here. I don’t like the bitter taste that left in my mouth; we’re gonna fight with every fiber of our beings to make sure we don’t have a repeat of last Wicked.
You want that spot in the Addiction main event to inflict pain on your opponents, or continue to build your path to glory. We need that spot to prove to everyone - and to ourselves - that we’ve got what it takes to hang with the best in PAW.”
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Post by Caroline O'Hara Burchill on Aug 18, 2016 2:48:41 GMT
Maybe I'm going too far
Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself
  She couldn't help but to pace back and forth, anxiously fumbling with her fingers as each step she made had a slight bounce to them. Her heartbeat was frantic and strong to the point where it felt like it would pop out of her chest at any given moment. Her nerves were frayed to the quick, frazzled and jumping all over the place. In her building nervousness she constructed elaborate rationalizations for why everything would turn out alright, but still the nagging voice in the back of her mind spoke of nothing but possible doom ahead. Okay, maybe she was being completely dramatic, but for the seventeen year old Caroline Valentina Zolnerowich, she couldn't shake out the tenseness that shrouded her entire body. She was shaking, even perspiring a little, and she was as nervous as a jittery little bug. She couldn't stand still and maintain a relaxed position. It was damn near impossible. How could she be composed when she was set to have her very first professional wrestling match ever? How could any human being with a conscious even sit back, kick their feet up and chill when they are in this kind of position? The butterflies that were flying haphazardly inside of her stomach seemed to grow more persistent by the second, and Caroline swore that she was close to throwing up. The teenager couldn't even think straight. She was going to walk out in a few minutes, and she was a complete wreck. There was so many things that were racing through her mind, and she couldn't even handle it.
I'm going to break.
When she finally came to a stop, Caroline closed her eyes and took the time to breathe. She tried to intake and expel some air slowly, hoping to finally gain some clarity and relax herself. However, her fingers continued to weave in and out of each other, and the strong flood of various emotions was still overcoming her. God, why was this happening to her? Why did she have to be so nervous? She honestly envied other rookies who were calm, cool and collected. She still couldn't believe that some of them never felt any pressure from the impending critics about how their careers could possibly take off if they were successful in their first match. She wished she could be like that. She wished that she could be confident and not be a timid dork shaking like a little chihuahua. She wished that she didn't have to overthink things and care about having to make an impressive first impression. She wished that she could block everyone out and not have to worry or fret about what others might think about her. However, she couldn't do any of that. She didn't have that kind of spunk to her.
I don't know if I can even do this.
She sighed, reopening her eyes to look down at the ground. However, she suddenly jerked up and was completely alarmed by the sudden touch of a hand on her shoulder. Her heartbeat became even more rapid and the nerves that she was desperately trying to get rid of were only heightened.
"Holy shit!" Were the words that were blurted out by an exasperated Caroline as she quickly spun around, seeing who it was that touched her. The male threw his hands up, as if to say that he had no intention of scaring her. However, he couldn't help but to chuckle and shake his head, finding Caroline's reaction to be amusing. In a way, it was kind of wicked for him to laugh. After all, Caroline was close to having a heart attack. So, seeing that he was chuckling only made Caroline's cheeks redden as she gave him a frown. "That's not funny, Shawn!" The teenage Aussie said with a huff and a frown. She crossed her arms as Shawn giggled, trying to apologize to his younger sister.
"I'm sorry, Caroline. I didn't mean to frighten you. I was just trying to see how you were doing... and by the look of things, you're not doing so well."
Caroline sighed and ran a hand through her hair, shaking her head as if to admit that she wasn't in a stellar mood. "In all honesty, I'm really nervous right now." She explained, looking up at her older brother. "I've been feeling high strung ever since we got to this place. I guess I'm just...not ready for this kind of stuff."
"Huh?" Shawn arched a brow at her, slightly surprised. "But Caroline, what's there to be nervous about? We've been training you for months."
"Yeah, but this is too much for me! What if the fans don't like me? What if I mess up? What if my opponent just completely kicks my ass and make a mockery out of me? There's so much that can go wrong, Shawn. I don't know if I can handle this."
Shawn couldn't believe what he was hearing. He never expected Caroline to be completely stressed out, let alone even doubting herself and questioning if she should be here. This was the same girl who wanted to be a professional wrestler. This was the same girl who wanted to be just like their mother who was killing it in the United States back in the eighties and nineties. But now? She was like a completely different person, and Shawn couldn't understand why Caroline was suddenly getting cold feet. The same young girl who was so exuberant and couldn't wait to get in the ring was now nervous? It was all insane to him.
"Caroline...," Shawn began, placing his hand on her shoulder again in a gentle caress to calm her down. He tried to look into her eyes, but Caroline quickly averted her gaze from and looked off to the side. "You can't back out now. This is what you wanted, remember? You wanted to be just like Mom and do this. We've worked so hard to get you here. Why would you want to throw it all away now?"
"It's just that... I'm not confident in myself." Caroline uttered out softly, still looking away from Shawn. "There's just a lot at stake here and it's just too much for me."
"Caroline--"
"Shawn, I-I'm so sorry, but I can't." Suddenly, her voice cracked and the young woman would feel a few tears gently gliding down her cheeks as she was beside herself. She shook her head and stepped back, using her forearm to try and wipe away the tears that were invading her face. She truly thought that she wasn't ready for this. She was upset at herself, and she felt as though she let Shawn down. "This is too much for me to handle. I can't do this."
"Yes, you can. You can do this. You can't just walk out of here and leave! This has been your dream since you were a little girl."
"Yeah, a very fucking stupid dream at that!" She hurled out, getting frustrated with Shawn's unrelenting persistence. "I'm not built for this, Shawn! I'm not ready to do this, and I don't think I ever will be!"
By then, the tears were becoming overbearing and Caroline couldn't contain herself anymore. She covered her face and sobbed. Shawn couldn't help but to feel saddened by his sister's display. He didn't want Caroline to quit. He wanted her to still go out there and have her match, but at the same time, he couldn't stand to see her upset like this. He didn't know what to say to her. However, he did know what to do, and he walked up to his distressed sister to give her a hug. When his arms were wrapped around her, Caroline just let out everything. The emotions that she was trying to contain just spilled out and she buried her face into his shoulder, receptive of his embrace. What seemed like forever was actually a few minutes, and by then her match was about to come up. Pulling back from Shawn, Caroline again wiped away her tears and she tried to calm down. Shawn placed a finger on her chin and wiped off a tear that had been there.
"You know that you're such an ugly crier, right?" Shawn joked, trying to lighten the atmosphere for them. Caroline couldn't help but to chuckle, rolling her eyes as she gave him a light shove. "And you know that you're such a jerk, right?"
"Yeah, I guess I am. But, Caroline... are you sure you want to do this?" He asked, trying to gauge her to go out there and have her match one last time. Caroline sighed, but Shawn was quick to continue on with what he had to say.
"I know you're scared. I know that you're nervous and think that you can't do this, but this is something that you've been passionate about for years. Wrestling is in our family. You're a Zolnerowich for goodness sake. Our Mother is a legend in our sport, and I'm sure that she wants to see you leave your own mark here. You can't throw all of that away all because you're unsure about this. You can't let the doubt get to you like this"
Caroline was conflicted at this point. She was definitely timid and afraid. However, Shawn did have a point. This is what she always wanted to do. She went out of her way to have Shawn train her, and it wouldn't make sense for her to back out now. No matter how much she wanted to run away, she had to just stand her ground and press forward. She couldn't give all of this up now.
"I know this may seem daunting, but you have to throw caution to the wind and just do it. You have talent, Caroline. You'll make it, but if you tell yourself that you can't do it, then you'll just mess everything up for yourself. No matter what happens, you should be proud of yourself... because I'm certainly proud of you."
By then, Caroline's perception completely changed. Shawn was absolutely right. She couldn't doubt herself. She had to just go out there and do her best. The young woman smiled faintly, before going in to hug her brother once more.
"Alright. I guess I can do it. If you say that I can, then I will."
"That's the spirit!" Shawn grinned and gave Caroline a light ruffle of her hair, much to her displeasure. She frowned as stepped back and fixed her hair. Just then, her music began to play, and Caroline was a bit surprised.
"Shit. The match is starting already?"
"Yep. Now, go on out there and show to everyone what you can do."
Caroline looked back at Shawn and nodded, her smile becoming even more visible. She took a deep breath and exhaled before she stepped out of the backstage area, heading to her match. She was still feeling nervous, but she felt much better. She had to go into her match and show to everyone what she was capable of. She wasn't going to throw months of training down into the trash. She no longer doubted herself. She no longer was unsure about her capabilities to win a match. She felt a bit more relaxed and prepared. She was now ready.
I can do this.
I can do this.
I will do this.    "Seriously?"
"Seriously. This place is absolutely amazing."
Caroline couldn't help but to shake her head and laugh as she looked down at her iPhone, seeing the pool of the house that her brother Shawn recently purchased. The entire place was absolutely stunning, and she was jealous that Shawn able to get a house like that. Meanwhile, she was on the couch in her studio apartment, completely exhausted and covered in sweat from her latest training session. She didn't even get the chance to step into the bathroom before her phone vibrated, and now she was on Face Time with her brother. Still, she wasn't complaining. After all, they haven't spoken to one another ever since Caroline was signed to PAW. They definitely needed to contact one another, and Caroline was glad that they were catching up. It was much needed.
"I'm jealous. I definitely need to come visit you guys once I have enough free time." Caroline said, smiling. It would be nice to see her brother in person again. However, for now, her current schedule wouldn't allow for that. She was constantly putting in the time to train for her matches, and on top of that, she had a fashion brand to run. She was stacked when it came to tasks and what she needed to do. It could be a bit overwhelming at times, but this is what she wanted to do, and this is what she had to do. She just hoped that it wouldn't be too much. She wanted to see Shawn again, but she was busy at the moment. Shawn smiled and nodded his head, understanding that his sister had a lot to do before she could come over.
"Hopefully, it will be sooner rather than later. Everyone misses you."
"Oh, I can only imagine. I've just been busy, you know? But I'll try my best and see what I can do. I certainly missed all of you."
"Well, we'll be waiting for you here. We won't be going anywhere." Shawn said with a chuckle, now going back inside to set down in the living room. "How have you been holding up in that fed you're a part of?"
"Pretty good. Won my last match, so I'm definitely feeling good about myself right now."
Caroline was indeed happy about her and Hayden's win at the last WICKED event. The Aussie was confident that she would be able to rebound from her loss in her debut match, and Caroline certainly backed up her words. Even though she intended to be the one to win the match for her team, Caroline decided to change her mind and work alongside Hayden at the last minute. It was certainly uncharacteristic of her, but she realized that trying to outshine her partner was only going to lead to some unwanted issues in the match. Besides, Colter and Roscar were on the verge of self-destruction. She figured that she'd let them be the ones to engage in petty arguments and bring forth their own impending doom. Her plan worked, and now Caroline has a win to her name. So, reminiscing about that only made Caroline beam even more in pleasure.
"I have another match tomorrow. It's a big deal. If I win it, I'll be going on to the main event of Addiction. Can you believe that?"
"I definitely believe that you have what it takes to be in the main event. After all, look at you! You have the makings of a star. There's no way you're going to lose this one."
"That has got to be the smartest thing you've ever said in your life."
"Well, I guess I can take that as a compliment."
Caroline laughed, fanning herself to cool down. "You have no choice, really. You can't just denounce my compliment anyway."
Shawn playfully rolled his eyes. "Yeah, whatever. But seriously, I'm glad that everything is working out for you. It's good to see you like this again, especially after what happened last year."
"...Yeah." Caroline uttered out softly, sighing as she recalled that difficult time in her life. It was tough, and she remembered how miserable she was back then. However, what seemed like a life filled with negativity soon became positive again, and now she was back to doing what it is that she loved. "I'm glad, too."
"Just know that I will always be proud of you, Caroline. We're all rooting for you here, and we want to see you have a successful career." Shawn said, smiling at his sister. Caroline smiled back, appreciating the fact that her family back home were supportive of her, especially her brother who has helped her get into the profession that she was currently in.
"Thanks, Shawn. That means a lot to me."
"Well, I'm obligated to say that. After all, you are my sister."
"You got a point there. Again, you're a smart man."
"Haha, whatever. Anyway, I have to leave now. Trisha and I are going out to eat, and I should've been ready by now."
"Yeah, that's alright. I'm absolutely fucking filthy anyway. I need to freshen up."
"Alright. It was nice talking to you again. I would say good luck in your match, but really, you don't need any luck."
"God, three times in a row? Christmas came early this year!"
The two siblings laughed for about a good minute before Shawn waved goodbye and left. Sighing happily, Caroline finally got up and went off to take a shower. She spent the entire night packing her gear and making sure that she was ready to go for tomorrow night. She wished Shawn would come and see her live, but he himself was a busy man. However, she knew for certain that he was proud of her, and Caroline couldn't be anymore happy.
But you told me that I could do it
So I'll go and do just that
"Now, I’m heading into my third match and I continue to be even more of a rising star here in PAW. This match is just going to check off another win column for me. After all, my tag partner and I are going up against two girls that get even more obnoxious and annoying as the weeks pass by. Seriously. Am I supposed to fight a pair of two credible women who can wrestle or a pair of girls who haven't even passed the pubescent stage yet?"
"Naturally, everyone is going to want the dynamic duo of Spencer and Lee to win this match. I mean, they're just so sweet, kind and lovable! Right? Who doesn't love a pair of women who pander to the crowd and are always happy for no fucking reason whatsoever? They could be the worst wrestlers in the entire world, but just because they're so nice they're automatically going to be the fan favorites in this match. No one wants to see those two lose to two women who are legitimate threats and can easily kick the shit out of them. However, many of you - along with Spencer and Lee - fail to understand that playing the nice girl card isn't going to make you win a match. It's not going to help elevate you to the top of the mountain, and that kind of naivety will always be an issue. It doesn't matter how many people "respect" you and adore you. The fact will always remain that this is a competition filled with nothing pure, unadulterated aggression, and if you can't handle that, then you shouldn't be here. This is where you have to be ruthless and unforgiving because many people are seeking to beat you. Many people are looking to hurt you and systematically break you down. Holding back and claiming that you're "above that" is absolutely fucking stupid to be honest. What, so you'll let people run over you? You'll just sit back and watch as people who are actually smarter and more talented than you seize opportunities that you should be getting? It's not about being rude or arrogant. It's not about sticking your pinkie out and have a haughty attitude. It's about being a serious competitor who can stomp out the competition and surmount to the main event scene. Yet, the only thing you seem to care about is... the fans?"
"Are you fucking stupid or something?"
"What are the fans going to do for you in the long run? They sure as hell won't help you win a match. They sure as hell won't catapult you to main event status and they sure as hell won't help you become a champion. The fans aren't worth shit at all. If you care about being an entertainer rather than being an actual athlete, then how about you leave and go join a circus or something. If you're going to spew out some bullshit about professional wrestling being all about the fans, then get the fuck out and don't show up for our match. I'm here to be the best. I'm not here to pander or entertain anyone. I'm here to win because - newsflash! - that's what professional wrestling is all about. In case you didn't get the memo, Kelsey, you're supposed to beat your opponents. You're supposed to go out of your way to say why you're a better wrestler than everyone else and then prove it. Why pander to the crowd? Why be nice when this is such a volatile profession? Only those who are capable of rising above the competition will succeed, and that is why I am here. I stepped up to the plate and I said that I was going to be a major player here in PAW. That's why I'm in this match. I'm a superior wrestler and I can beat anyone that is in front of me. That is why I am still pin-less in my career here thus far. That's why no one has been able to beat me and lay me out by themselves. It's because I am just that much better than you. Always have been and always will be."
"You see, Kelsey and Annabel, you two are coming from an unimpressive showing at the last WICKED event whereas Hayden and I breezed through two men who have underlying martial issues with one another. If you two decided to get out of the nice girl mindset, then maybe you would be actual competition for us. However, the two of you are nothing more but two foolish little girls that think they can come into this match and win the whole thing. You're not ready to face us. You're not ready to look us in our eyes and say that you can beat us. Everyone may be rooting for you two to win, but really, you're the underdogs in this. You have no idea what we're like in the ring. You can do all the research that you want, but in the end, your attempts will be futile. You're going to suffer the same fate that Roscar and Colter did, and they talked a big game. They tried their hardest to bark loudly, but they got kicked to the curb like a pair of mangy mutts and weren't tough at all. These two many have more experience in the ring combined than you two, yet they couldn't keep up. So, what makes the two of you fuckheads think that you can win this match?"
"The main event scene is rightfully mine. I've been in that position before in my career, and I will be in that position yet again. This match is nothing more but a piece of cake. It's just going to be another match where I, Caroline O'Hara Burchill, will walk out victorious. It will be a glorious event to witness, and then, I'll show to the whole world why I am wrestling royalty. Just stick to your day job, Kelsey. Oh, and Annabel? Have fun chasing your father's shadow. Nice girls will always finish last."
"The Queen of PAW is here. Time for you bitches to give me my crown. Have fun trying to end my reign."
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Post by Anastasia Hayden on Aug 18, 2016 3:17:48 GMT
 Give me some truth to the other side
At least tell me your name
Do what you want
If you were evil, then do evil
If you were good, did you regret it?Near the end of a smoke filled bar, wasting away her time in front of a Stella Artois bottle, Anastasia Hayden held the neck of it in between her fingers. She checked her phone to look at the time, 9:46 PM. The proper response was a sigh and a swig from the bottle. On any other night, there’d be a cause for celebration. Ana had just been contracted to head back out to Japan for NJFC and in a few days, she’d make her pay-per-view debut for Pure Amusement Wrestling. Considering she had spent the last few months of her life locked in England, this was nothing, but improvement for her. However, she wasn’t satisfied with any of that. There was something gnawing at the back of Anastasia’s mind. Something she couldn’t shake loose. As she looked around the bar, she saw something in each patron that she could relate with. Whether it was the ones trying to drink to forget or the ones playing pool to distract themselves from whatever. She could relate to them all. At least Ana took pride in knowing she was better off than most of them. Maybe that was arrogance on her behalf, but she needed some arrogance to feel better about her situation. While wrestling for her was as great as it had ever been, she couldn’t rattle herself free from her personal life. A constant. Every time in Ana’s life when she started to climb to the top of whatever mountain she needed to climb, even without any obstacles in her way, something would still find a way to get to her. The pros and cons of her being out in Louisiana without a support system. PAW was a journey she needed to tackle on her own, but it wasn’t like she’d reach out to anyone if they were there. England proved to her what she already knew, she was destined to fuck every relationship she was in. It happened in Oklahoma before then and North Dakota before that. For a moment, she was lost in her thought. Back in her small flat in England, she contemplated what was next for her in life. Wrestling was done, her best friend had vanished after getting punched in the face by her ex. An endless cycle of depression. And to make it all worse, her phone started to ring. The number came up without a name, but she knew who it was. The digits didn’t need anything attached to them. The phone rang once, twice, three times. Midway through the fourth ring, Ana accepted the call and put it up to her ear. “What do you want, Luke?”She sounded colder than she thought, but this was needed. At least, that’s what she thought. This wasn’t the first time he’s called her and it probably wouldn’t be the last unless she put her foot down. As a couple, they were over for only a few weeks, but Luke was holding on to some lonesome strand of hope. There wasn’t a chance. Too many boundaries had been crossed and disrespected. Not that Ana was innocent in any of it. “What went wrong? I miss you, Ana...more than anything. I need you.”There was a slight slur with his words. Ana sighed. She knew what it meant, but she didn’t want to address it. Not yet. “Please...say something.”There was nothing to say. Her silence spoke volumes, but Luke didn’t want to hear it. The pain in his voice was obvious. Part of her wanted to feel sorry for him, but all she needed to do was think about the night he punched Terry McKenna. That alone was enough to cause Ana’s blood to boil. She wanted to care for Luke as much as he cared for her. “Have you been drinking?”A pause from him. It was his silence that answered Anastasia’s question. In their time together, Ana knew that Luke would never drink. A recovering alcoholic that managed to surround himself with miserable people like Ana. Now, back to being an addict and there was only one thing on her mind. Was it all because of her? That kind of thought was harmful to the mental state. Something that she wasn’t going to be able to avoid anyways. “This can’t work anymore, Luke. You calling me, messaging me...it just...it just can’t work anymore.”“But it has to…”“Why?”“You mean more to me than anything else.”The grip on her phone got tighter. Her stoic tone never changed. “Why?”“Because I’m fucking in love with you.”His voice cracking in pain. A second pause. It wasn’t that Ana didn’t know what to say, but rather, she didn’t want to say anything at all. From the start, she knew a romantic relationship was going to be poisonous. It wasn’t Luke’s fault. Yet if it was, she wouldn’t blame him. But as she sat there in silence, she collected her thoughts. “You wanna know the real reason we’re breaking up?”It wasn’t for punching Terry. It wasn’t for being overbearing. Sure, he wasn’t perfect, but he cared for her. That wasn’t the problem. The names change, but they were never the problem. “Your heart is breaking right now...and I feel nothing.”Before Luke ever had the opportunity to react or respond, Ana hung up the phone. Feeling as empty as ever. She had a hard enough time processing her own emotions, she didn’t feel like shouldering any more. Even if they were generated by her. Just push the problems to the side. Wait for them to build up and come back, but for the moment, she was relieved from any burden. As she opened her eyes, the flood of that burden came rushing back to her and she took another swig from the beer bottle. She uses the back of her knuckle to wipe away a lone tear. Something needed to change. The question about what that something was happened to be bigger. Whatever that may be, Anastasia didn’t want to sit around and ponder over it anymore. Fishing out a few bills from her wallet, she covered her tab and tip, and put on her ballcap before heading for the exit. It was on her way out that something caught her eye. Among all the posters for local bands, help wanted, fishing, and whatever else. There was a lone poster that stood out among them all. Bad Moon Rising. She took a good look at it and something about it didn’t sit right with her. It wasn’t who was on there, but rather, who was lacking. Herself. Of course, Anastasia Hayden had only been on two shows thus far, but her confidence demanded her to be on that poster. For once in her life, she knew one thing for certain, she was better than Calvin Harris. Better than Press. Better than everyone in PAW. She had another tag match in front of her, another opportunity to showcase herself. An opportunity to break from the pack. All Anastasia had to do was prove it to everyone else. But more importantly, she had to prove it to herself first. Upon exiting the bar, Anastasia took a look at the clear sky above. A bad moon indeed. It wasn’t much of a walk back to her hotel and even with a slight buzz, it wouldn’t be too difficult of a walk. The road back was well lit and that was all the reassurance Ana needed. At least it wasn’t dark. After all, nothing bad has ever happened to a woman walking alone on the side of the road before, she thought. As if it was on cue, Ana noticed a man not too far ahead of her. He was walking in the same direction as her, but at a slower pace. For a moment, she hung back and took a good look at the man when she could. With each pass under a lamppost, it became increasingly obvious who he was. Not personally, but what he did was very clear. The dried paint on his face, the balding yet colorful hair that doesn’t match the rest of his attire. Ana figured that as long as she kept her pace controlled, she wouldn’t have to interact with the clown. As luck would have it, the man would sit down on the guardrail to take a breather. She cursed something under her breath and hoped she wouldn’t have to interact with the clown. Her head was locked ahead, trying her best not to make any eye contact with him. Just as she started to pass by him, he spoke up “Hey.”She kept on walking, pretending that she didn’t hear anything. “Hey! You dropped something!”Again, Anastasia ignored him and kept walking. The Southern drawl only sent a chill down Ana’s spine. His footsteps drawing closer to her caused Ana’s body to tense up. Feeling his presence just inches away from her, she turned around to face him. “Hey...didn’t you hear me? I said you dropped something!”The clown reached his hand up toward Ana’s head in one motion. “See? Always gotta check behind the ears.”As he pulled his hand back from behind the side of her head, he held a carnival ticket in front of her eyes. “Now, you can’t go losin’ these. How else you gonna get any drinks out in the park?”“Jesus Christ…”The clown chuckled and put his hands on his chest in a mocking shocked fashion “Oh, dear, I’m sorry, miss...didn’t mean to frighten ya. I figure you ain’t all that familiar with our type yet, are ya?”“Yeah...guess not.”Ana studied the face of the clown, the smile curving way beyond his mouth, the white paint under his eyes, and the spot of red on his nose. None of that made her feel any better about him, but he didn’t seem to pose a threat. “I take it you work at-”“Yes, ma’am.”“So, a clown, huh?”“Oh, we prefer the term ‘entertainers’ nowadays. ‘Clown’ is a derogatory term these days.”“I never took clowns - entertainers to be so politically correct.”The “entertainer” shrugged his shoulders and went with it. The white paint at the top of his forehead creasing with his wrinkles at the term “clown”. Despite the painted on smile, his expression was almost that of a frown. “It’s how I make a livin’. Gotta make it respectable somehow - hey, you got any smokes on ya?”“No, sorry, I don’t.”“Ah, that’s alright. I need to quit. Gas station’s up ahead anyways.”Turning her head back over her shoulder, he was right, the gas station wasn’t that far. “By the way. I didn’t catch your name, kid.”“Ana.”He stuck his gloved hand out, greeting her with a proper wide smile, and Ana reluctantly went along with it. He took lead as the two started heading toward the gas station. “Ana...now where have I heard that name before? Oh! Oh, right, you’re one of them ‘entertainers’ too, huh? A wrestler, ain’t ya?”She nodded. “And here I was, thinkin’ I was the weird one...course, I don’t mean to offend.”“None taken, clown.”He chuckled for a bit, taking the comment in stride. Ana found herself still studying the clown, he was posing a mystery to her. There was something off about it all. He seemed familiar to her, but she just chalked it up to most clowns looking the same. “How’d you even get here?”“Bit of a deep question, don’t ya think?”“No...I mean...how did you end up becoming an ‘entertainer’ for the amusement park?”“Well...shit, same reason anyone does anything. I needed money. Wasn’t too good at much else ‘cept makin’ folks laugh. And I like that. Couldn’t do stand-up, got stage fright, my hands shake and everything. Bein’ among people...that don’t bother me as bad. So, next best thing was makin’ myself look like a fool and here we are, Miss Ana.”There was an awkward silence between the two, almost as if the clown had expected Anastasia to fill that void with something of her own. He rolled his eyes, knowing he’d have to pry information out. “What about you?”“Wrestling? I dunno...it’s just what I do. What I’ve always done.”“Yeah, come on, kid, surely there’s gotta be more to it than just ‘wrestlin’’ Anyone can wrestle. Hell, I could wrestle, but I don’t.”He was right. She thought that it wasn’t all that surprising that the strangers in Ana’s life were able to see through her too. “I mean...like you said, it’s a job. I need the money.”“Right, but, kid, there’s more to it than just makin’ money, right?”“I guess...I don’t know. It’s just...it changes every week.”Ana sighed, looking up at the sky as she walked. She had to think about a proper answer, but there wasn’t anything coming to her. It was all just a mess. “Sometimes I know what I’m doing, sometimes I have no fucking idea. Which only makes it all that fitting because my life is fucking chaos. So it’s perfect that I pick a job that’s filled with chaos everyday.”And just like everyone else in her life, the clown too was getting frustrated with the short answers from her. Admittedly, Anastasia didn’t want to unravel her entire life story to a stranger. Especially to a clown. But maybe that’s what she needed. To talk to someone who had no strings to her. What could it hurt? “Everywhere I go...I disappoint. Whether it’s myself or someone else. With wrestling...I can only get better, right? So naturally, I just stick with it. Whenever I fucking hate it, I know it’s all I’ve got. Every other job just...doesn’t feel right. I don’t know...”“But there’s even more to that...isn’t there?”This time, Ana picked up on an almost sinister tone to what he said. Perhaps it wasn’t intended from the older gentleman. It was enough to pull back that uneasy feeling she had left back at the guardrail. “You wanna be great...you wanna be better than great.”She turned her head toward him, he kept his locked ahead. Looking at him, he started to look familiar again. Past just being a clown she’s seen in the park. She’s seen him before she thought, but couldn’t place it. “Well...tell me I’m wrong then.”The clown cocked his head right at Ana and the two locking eyes caused Ana to jump a bit. She recognized the face now, the same clown she had seen on her laptop. Now the two had come to a stop on the side of the road, facing one another. Ana felt her body lock up again. She found herself just looking into his eyes and listening to him speak. “Soundin’ like a broken record...always wantin’ to prove you’re better than those folks. But they don’t care. They think you ain’t got what it takes, Ana. But you do, right? Or do you? What do you have locked in that tiny little head of yours?”He leaned closer, almost whispering to Ana “Something dark I bet…”Pulling back, he was all smiles. Nothing sincere about it. “But what would I know? After all, I’m only a clown. Now, I think it’s time for us to part ways, Miss Ana.”Looking past his shoulder, there was nothing, but the treeline beside them. Back at him, then Ana turned her head for a moment, the gas station still a bit away. As she turned her head back, he had already started to make his exit. “Wait! Who...who are you?”The clown stopped in his steps, turning his head to the side, but not enough to look back at Ana as he spoke. “Names are for friends, kid...and I ain’t got no friends.”
“From the moment I stepped foot into PAW, I noticed something different. Something strange. And it wasn’t all the painted up freaks running around. It wasn’t all the idiots trying to be dark and mysterious. I noticed something strange within myself. The first go around, I didn’t sense it. But at the last Wicked? I felt it. I realized what that feeling was. I was just coasting it during my short time here. What I was bringing to the shows isn’t what defines me. What everyone was seeing was a watered down Anastasia Hayden.”
“A watered down version that’s undefeated. I don’t know what they really says. If the talent pool here is beyond pathetic or if I’m just that much better than everyone else. But where, oh where is Anastasia Hayden’s name? I don’t make it onto any of the posters, I barely crack any rankings here. What more am I going to have to do to prove myself? Beat Calvin Harris? Cause I’ve already done that elsewhere. Beat Press? Beat Nova Wonder? But I’m getting ahead of myself. I’ve already got two opponents that I need to focus on and beat.”
“But I just get so...so upset. When I look around here, I see everyone just content with being complacent. The standard of mediocrity is astounding. Me, I’m not one to brag, but I’m just a few weeks away from heading back out to Japan to establish my excellence on a global stage. Not only will I represent the best PAW has to offer, but I’m going to represent the standard everyone should model themselves after. I’ve already said it countless times, but I’ll reiterate it once more. I’m the greatest wrestler in PAW, the greatest in the world. I’m the number one and there’s nobody close to me. When I create this standard, everyone is going to want to be me.”
“Hell, it’s already started. This standard? My partner has obviously taken to heart. Because if it wasn’t for me, Caroline would still be struggling to get that next win. But I, being the saint that I am, came by and supported her when she obviously couldn’t support herself. Granted, I was still the reason we won at Wicked, but hey...you did a little better this time. I’m a sucker for stories and tales of redemption, when they all come back together and tie a nice bow. After all, it’s only fitting that I gave Caroline her first loss and her first win in PAW. And now? I’ve got the opportunity to give her one more thing. A chance at being in the main event of the first Addiction!”
“Though, it’s not going to be an easy journey. Well, admittedly, it kind of is. I’ve just got a few problems that I need to take care of before I get there. You see, while I was getting another win at Wicked, Annabel Lee and Kelsey Spencer were taking a loss together. A rather tragic tale of two overtly happy girls who just happen to be wrestlers ‘living the dream’ get a little reality check. It’s an archaic story that I’ve heard far too many times.”
“Of course now I’m given the pleasure of reinforcing that tale yet again for them. I’m sure you’ll have the opportunity to shine somewhere else down the line because your kind, no matter how storied you may be, always get a chance to shine. Me? I’ve seen how this usually fares for me. I can beat you week after week, month after month, but I don’t get that same spotlight that you two get. I’m not some quirky little girl with big aspirations. I’m a realist with goals that I know I can accomplish. I can guarantee you two this...the cheers may come, but what happens when you lose again? And again? What happens when those cheers are gone?”
“You become stagnant, which you’re already toeing a very dangerous line toward. Annabel, the sweetheart. I won’t lie, it even broke my heart watching you lose! To make it worse, before you loss, I had to watch you and your little best buddy get all cheery and happy about your match. Oh my god, it just broke me. I wanted you two to win so, so badly...then reality set in and you lost. To add insult to injury, you weren’t even the weak link of your team!”
“I watched you carry, both figuratively and literally, Kelsey Spencer throughout that match. Then when you watched her get her ass kicked, you tried, oh GOD, did you try...but it wasn’t enough. She couldn’t kick out and you couldn’t save her. But you were the better woman, you didn’t show any bitterness while you had to drag her pathetic self up the ramp. But what about after Bad Moon Rising, Annabel?”
“When I...and Caroline beat you and Kelsey...what happens then? Do the little wonder pals split up? Because it’s very cut and dry what’s going to happen. You and me, we’ll have a good fight. Then when your excuse of a partner steps in, it’s almost cliched what’s going to happen. I’ll beat her down, she’ll get a little fire because she connects so well with everyone since she’s just a fan achieving her dream! Then I bring her down and I kick those perfect teeth down her throat. I pin her.”
“One.”
“Two.”
“Three.”
“And you’re left there, standing, watching as you realize there was nothing you could do. Hell, you’ll think maybe you could’ve gotten in the ring a little faster. Or that maybe you would have done a different move at a different time in the match. But Annabel, those are simple delusions and lies that you’re feeding to yourself. When you strip away all of that, you come to the same conclusion that anyone with half a brain would come to. The truth is...there’s nothing you can do for Kelsey.”
“And speaking of Kelsey...there’s not much else I need to say to you, is there? I know you can be a little simple-minded, but I’m sure you can piece together my words to figure out what I think of you. To put it bluntly for you, I’m going to lead my team to victory and you’re going to be the one who, again, takes the fall for your team. Try as hard as you want, keep fighting the good fight, but just know...you don’t stand a chance against Anastasia Hayden. And that’s not your fault. The cards were stacked against you the moment I made my debut in PAW.”
“You just get the unfortunate luck getting in my path to greatness. So it doesn’t really matter which one of you I beat. Annabel, Kelsey...you’re both the same as far as I’m concerned. All Caroline has to do is just sit back again, take the credit, and let me do all the work. Because when the night is over, that Bad Moon will settle….and shine down on me. Everyone will know that I’m the best in PAW. I will show the world what I already know. That I am the greatest! All I have to do is beat two happy-go-lucky carnies and I just inch ever closer to my next goal. Consider losing to me an honor, girls. I’ll be the role model that you two so desperately need.”
“After all, you are looking at the Future Champion.” |
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Post by Annabel Lee on Aug 18, 2016 3:48:34 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
• • • Dear Diary,
Kelsey and I had another awesome match at Wicked 16. Strick Plissken and Johnny Raike got the best of us and we didn't win but man we were still great as a team. Working with Kelsey is so awesome. I never imagined that tag team competition would be so fun! I wonder why Daddy never did more tag team stuff.
Can you believe that Kelsey thought I would be mad at her because we didn't win though?! That's crazy talk! She was the one who was pinned and she felt like that meant she “cost” us the match, which is just silly. We wrestle as a team and we win or don't win as a team. I wouldn't be a very good partner if I blamed her for something that's just a part of wrestling, now would I?
Sometimes you win and sometimes you don't win. That's just how it is. I'm super proud of myself for winning my first three matches as a professional wrestler. I know that no one expected me to do so well so fast. I'm super proud that I got to share one of those wins with Kelsey too! Strick and Johnny beat us but they are one hell of a team and I'm not going to feel bad about it, no matter how hard people might try to make me.
Kelsey shouldn't either. We were great together against Mikhail and Adam Wolfe and we were great together against Strick and Johnny Raike too, the outcomes were just different. There was a little miscue is all. The more we work together the less chance there will be for those.
Getting beat in matches is a fact of wrestling. No one can win them all. Lots of people like to talk about being undefeated. The thing is, everyone is undefeated until they aren't, right? Sure some people out there have some real impressive streaks going, but I think that just makes the fall hurt that much more when it happens.
It's like when I took those figure skating lessons for a while. You've got to learn to fall down so that you're not so afraid of it and learn to fall in a way that doesn't break something. If you're always afraid of falling you'll never be brave enough to start learning axels. If you don't know how to fall right, you'll get hurt.
Like Daddy always used to say: Getting beat happens, whether or not you get defeated is up to you.
Kelsey and I are far from defeated. We're right back at it for the next show and we've got some amazing opponents in Anastasia Hayden and Caroline O'Hara Burchill. I had to write it all out like that. Her name just sounds like... like a Fairy Tale princess or something! I wonder if she puts her hand on her collar and uses an accept when she tells people her name. Does she close her eyes and tilt her nose up a little? That's how I picture it in my head.
The best part about the match is that it's all us girls. You know me and you know I'm not afraid to step into the ring with anybody, like Kelsey and I did with Mikhail and Adam Wolfe. When it's all girls though we get to show the crowd stuff they haven't seen us do before! We're a little smaller, we're a lot faster. We've got the ability to throw each other around like we can't quite do with the boys. This match is going to be so exciting! I can't wait to go back and watch it after it happens!
I know it's not the Main Event of Bad Moon Rising. I never had any silly ideas that I would end up there, I know I'm way too new for that. I really think that our match is going to be a show stealer though. I hope that doesn't make me sound too full of myself. I just think that there's so much the four of us can bring to the table and so much we can do.
There is one thing that is bothering me though. I found out that Kelsey got a second job. She's delivering pizza! I don't even know what to say. I can't believe it. She's a professional wrestler and she has to have a second job.
I know it doesn't always pay well. I saw it plenty of times with Daddy, but we always made due. I've got it good right now and I'm making enough that I can travel all around whenever I want and still put some away for later. I live with Daddy though and I know that I'm super lucky because he was smart with his money and I don't have to help him pay for the house because he already owns it.
Kelsey's mom is the sweetest lady and I know that she'd do anything for Kelsey, I know she tried. She just didn't have it like we did. Kelsey has to help her out and she's not making enough. I feel so bad. I want to help. I'm worried that if I offer that I will seem like I think I'm better than she is or something and that's not it at all.
Like I said before, Kelsey feels like family now and you're supposed to take care of family. Like Daddy and I take care of each other. Like Kelsey is trying to take care of her mom. What do I do? I just don't know.
What I do know is that I have to figure something out. I can't sit around and pretend that it's not happening. I can't look around at everything I have and do nothing when I know that Kelsey and her mom deserve so much more. Maybe I could send some money anonymously or something? I'll have to think about it. You and I will figure it out together, like we've done forever.Always,
A • • • The video came into focus as Annabel backed away from where she had set up her little GoPro, presumably on the dresser of the room, as it was obvious from her surroundings that she was in a hotel. She sat down on the foot of the bed, her trademark smile beaming. She lifted her arms to gesture at the room, making a little shrug as she did.
“Yeah yeah, I know what everyone is thinking, 'Looks like Annabel lost track of time again.'” She blushed a touch. “And you would be right. Here I am doing this again from my room. I still haven't found my 'thing' but I'm working on it, I promise.”
She paused, folding her hands in her lap while she thought. “So here we are again. I guess first thing I should do is say thank you so much to everyone who has been sending me fan mails and emails. You guys won't believe how surprised I was the first time I got one. I guess I never really expected to have fans, which was kind of silly of me. But yeah, so thanks! I'm going to have to think of some kind of name for you all except for 'Annabel's Fans.'”
Her ponytail bounced as she nodded, the smile still firmly on her face. “Anyway, I'm supposed to be talking about his match, aren't I? Before that I just wanted to say congratulations to Strick and Jonny Raike on their victory last week. They were some amazing opponents and we had an amazing match. I know I learned a ton from it.”
Her fingers curled into fists and her arms bounced a bit as she tried to contain herself. “And now for Bad Moon Rising I'm going to have another great match with my tag partner Kelsey against two more amazing opponents. I watched when Anastasia Hayden won that huge match against all the other debuting people for PAW. Right there is all the proof you need if you want to know whether or not she's good. She's not just good, she's great!”
Her ponytail began to list as she tilted her head without realizing it, lost in thought. “Now admittedly I know less about Miss Caroline O'Hara Burchill. Is it okay if I call her Miss Caroline? I just feel like that's what people would call her. Maybe a fancy driver who wears gloves and stuff. What I do know is that she has been doing pretty well for herself too.” Annabel straightened herself up when she realized how far she had been leaning, looking sheepish.
“That seems to be the theme for all of us in this match, doesn't it? Me and Kelsey, Anastasia and Caroline have all been doing great since we started in PAW. Maybe that is why they put us all together. They know what we can do and they know that when they put us all together they are going to get a fantastic show.
“Kelsey and I know that we have another huge challenge in front of us, and we're okay with that. If you don't challenge yourself you can't ever grow as a person or a wrestler. I never want to stop growing, so I guess that means I never want to stop getting challenged!” Her fingers drummed on her knee as she resisted the urge to get up and pace. The anticipation for the upcoming match was almost unbearable.
“Now I don't know if Anastasia or Caroline are as excited as I am, but I hope they are. It always makes for a better match when everyone involved loves what they are doing and is looking forward to it. I'm sure that might sound silly, and maybe some people will laugh about it, but that's just how I feel.” Annabel paused and leaned way back on the bed so that she could grab the bottle of water that was on the little table beside it, having a quick drink. “You guys know me well enough by now. You know I'll always be honest with you about how I feel.
“There are a lot of things I don't want to let myself become as my career grows. I don't want to be one of those people that gets angry and bitter about everything. How could I be angry and bitter when I'm doing what I love? I don't understand that. But another thing I don't want to become is someone who pretends to be something they aren't.” She shrugged yet again and held her arms out presenting all that was Annabel Lee.
“I am what I am. I'm a wrestler and I can put up a heck of a match but I'm not going to try to tell you I'm a tough girl. My dad my call me his Princess but I'm not going to try to make anyone else believe that I am one. I am just Annabel Lee, a girl that is getting to live her dream of being a professional wrestler, and that is more than enough for me to be.”
As she nodded again her ponytail bounced in front of her face, forcing her to push it back where it belonged. “I don't expect everyone to be like me, either. I don't expect everyone to understand that not winning a match doesn't make me feel like a loser.” Yes, in spite of the fact that they did not win the match, Annabel was still quite proud of it. She had to shake herself to keep from stopping to replay the whole thing in her head.
“I haven't had the chance to talk with either Anastasia or Caroline, and I don't know at all what they think about me and Kelsey. Maybe Anastasia and Caroline think that me and Kelsey are below them. If they do though I think they haven't been paying attention. Mikhail and Adam Wolfe made the mistake of underestimating us and well know how that turned out! Strick Plissken and Johnny Raike didn't think we would give them as much of a fight as we did, but we showed them otherwise.
“I know that four matches isn't a lot and I know that I'm a long way from proving myself to everyone, but I think I've proved myself to at least a few. I'm prepared to go out there at Wicked and prove myself to Anastasia and Caroline if I need to. Maybe they will accept it, maybe they won't. That is something I can't control and I'd make myself crazy trying.”
Annabel took a deep breath to collect her thoughts before letting it out with a big sigh. “No matter what Ana Hayden and Miss Caroline think and no matter if they respect Kelsey and I, I know that the four of us are going to give it everything we have. Maybe Ana and Miss Caroline are looking ahead to that Main Event of Addiction.
“I'm not though. I'm looking at this match that's right in front of me. I'm looking at two very talented and worthy opponents that I have to opportunity to wrestle. I'm looking at the immediate goal, and that is Bad Moon Rising, not Addiction. Whatever prize awaits in that Main Event, it is still on the horizon. I can't be looking at the horizon and miss the rock in front of me and trip.”
Her nose wrinkled for a moment as she wondered if she made too many metaphors when she got going. At last she shrugged. It wasn't as though she could take them back now. “I don't honestly know how much more I can say. I respect Anastasia and Caroline and what they have accomplished. I have an amazing tag partner and I know what we can accomplish together.
“The match last week wasn't a setback for us like people want to think, it was just a learning experience. Every match is if you're open to it. This match coming up is going to be one too. All these things I'm learning now are going to lead to bigger and better things down the road for me, no matter how winding the road ends up being.”
Her smile had waned a bit, but it brightened back up as her eyes lifted to the camera once again. “So thanks to everyone that is on that road with me, watching where I go on my little journey. It's great having you along and your support is amazing. I hope to see you at Bad Moon Rising!”
Annabel waved before standing up to turn off the camera.• • • “Hey Daddy,” Annabel began, trying to feign casualness as she flipped the pages of the fabric store coupon flier. “Do you remember Old Butch?” She peeked up with one eye to watch his reaction.
A strange look crossed his face. For a moment he seemed surprised, but it gave way to confusion. “Old Butch? You mean the guy that ran that one gym?”
“Yeah, Bud's Milwaukee Gym.” She lowered the flier and nodded at the same time, giving him her full attention.
“What on earth has you thinking about that place? It was years ago.” He laughed, but she wasn't sure what he thought was funny.
“Oh it just popped into my head a few weeks ago. I had that layover in the Milwaukee airport, remember? I got to thinking about when we lived there and I remembered the gym.” Annabel felt awful fibbing to her father, but most of what she said was true, right?
“I didn't even think you were old enough to remember much about Milwaukee.”
There were only certain things that had stuck in her mind about the place, as she had learned when trying to remember more about her time there. “I remember the ugly carpet in the basement. It was green and all matted. And I remember the crack in the wood paneling in the living room that I thought was a secret doorway you wouldn't show me.” It was Annabel's turn to laugh. “I can't even picture the front of the house though.”
“What's got you asking about Old Butch?”
Annabel felt sheepish and hesitated to ask but her curiosity was genuine even if she was holding back that she had found the old man's journal, “I just remember that he was always so grouchy to everyone. That's what I remember about him. I was wondering if you knew why he was so cranky.”
“I never knew Butch that well. I mostly just used his gym. The few times I trained with him we really didn't talk about much, Princess. He just yelled at me a lot while I did some drills.”
Annabel giggled. “I definitely remember that.” Now she had to test the waters a little more. “You think that gym is still open?”
Her father gave a rolling shrug of his broad shoulders but shook his head at the same time. “I heard that it closed quite a while ago. Butch would be awfully old if he's still kicking around now. He was already up there in years when we were living in Milwaukee.”
She tried not to frown as she remembered the frail old man lying in his bed in the nursing home, staring out the window at the flowers. “Yeah, I guess you're right. I was little so everyone seemed old to me.”
“You'll be old some day too, like your dad, don't forget that.”
She gave a dramatically exaggerated sigh. “Yeah, but not like until forever.” She stuck her tongue out at him as she hopped up from the couch, taking her flier with her. “Want me to get you a new cup of coffee before I go upstairs?”
He picked up the old mug and had a sip of the tepid black liquid within before handing it to her. “That sounds like a fine idea. Top your old man off, would you?”
Annabel filled the mug from the pot on the counter and microwaved it before making the delivery. Then she headed up to her room. For a few moments she stared at her desk, then over at her sewing table. Back and forth, back and forth. She knew she should really work on her costuming project but curiosity was getting the better of her.
When she headed to her desk she practically tip-toed, as if she thought someone was going to hear her or something. It was a silly thought. The old chair creaked as she sat down and got comfortable. The drawer slid open smoothly though because she always kept the tracks clean and oiled.
From inside the drawer she withdrew Old Butch's journal. She could only bring herself to read a little bit at a time, like a story she was afraid to know the end of. She was only a few pages in. His handwriting was also hard to read at points. Sometimes there was such a stark difference that it was like the journal had been written by two different hands.
At times it was neat, so perfect that it could have been the example in a penmanship lesson. Others it was distinctively slanted to the right with heavy, wide strokes. There were those same consistent spelling errors, though, and the tone behind the words remained the same.
They came back again today, the lug nut and the little girl. Thought for sure he'd run off with his tail between his legs after someone finally put him through some real drills. Came back smiling like a fool though, asking for more. We'll see if he's still asking for more after today.
No gingham dress today or little red shoes, but she was still toting the bear with her. This time he was bundled up in a red polka dot hankerchiff tied to the end of a stick. When I asked her what she was doing, she told me that she was running away and joining the circus. I should have known, if the tone of her voice was any indication.
She found a corner, untied the hankerchiff, and it was full of little plastic animals. Sure enough, she set them all up and had them performing circus acts while the lug nut was performing deadlifts. The monkey can out lift him, apparently.
It's in the eyes. Big brown eyes. I know those eyes.
Annabel snapped the journal shut as she heard the stairs creak.• • •
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 |
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