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Post by Osh Vaughan on Jun 11, 2021 11:18:04 GMT
Victoria McKenzie vs Charlotte Vaughan vs Moira Arches
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Post by Deleted on Jun 12, 2021 14:20:06 GMT
To say that Victoria McKenzie had taken her loss badly was an understatement, she had, however, passed the wild and screaming rage part and was now just feeling sorry for herself, she was currently sitting on her sofa, with a few empty tubs of ice-cream and some tissue boxes next to her. She had the look of someone who had been sobbing like they had been dumped by the love of their life; but this was worse to Victoria, she was currently just on the phone to her mum, managing to make words through her over dramatic sobbing.
VM: "This...*sob* this is the worst...*sniff* the worst day of my life!...I mean, I was meant to make you proud mummy and then I lost the title and embarrassed you...I didn't mean to, mum, honest...huh? Oh, I was doing well until that bitch...that fucking bitch Taylor Blazer cost me that title, it was totally unprovoked, mum, I didn't do anything to her, no, of course I didn't!! Yeah...oh, yeah, I'm taking it well."
Victoria lied as she took a big swig from another can of beer and continued her tearful and booze induced rambling to her mum back in Newcastle; but her tears were now giving way to her more coherent side; her mum being on the phone had actually helped the still clearly upset Victoria keep herself relatively calm; she continued to listen to her mum speak on the other end of the phone.
VM: "I'm going to get that title back, I promise, but first I've got to go and take care of a certain Blaze; it needs to be put out, see what I did there? Yeah, oh, hold on; I'm getting a notification, yeah, I love you, mum; talk to you soon, bye."
Vic finished off her phone call with her mum, as she wiped her tearful eyes with some tissue paper and looked at her phone, before turning the volume up on one really corny romantic 'comedy' that was on the Hallmark channel that Vic had been watching, as if she couldn't get anymore self pitying; but, as she looked at her phone, she grunted to herself in her Geordie accent.
VM: "Aye, it's probably IIW saying that I've got a chance to take on Taylor; that bitch is going see what it truly means to get stomped on! I mean, all I did was give her a piledriver and she acts like I did something truly horrible...Wait, huh?!"
Victoria's expression was now confused as she looked at the match that she was in for First Class, she was in a triple threat match against Charlotte Vaughan and Moira Arches, two newcomers to IIW with a lot of upside and all the potential in the world. Vic's expression actually changed to a bemused smile as she let out a slight chuckle at the unexpected announcement.
VM: "Hmmm, you put me in there with the woman who I should be facing anyway, nice that Moira is already doing well for herself, well, she's going to need all the luck she can get; Fiona gave me the match of my life last First Class show, and Charlotte Vaughan, who has a tonne of upside in her own right? Well, this is going to be interesting."
Victoria chuckled a bit as she thought about the idea of taking on both Charlotte and Moira, the landscape of First Class had already started to shift since Vic lost her title a lot sooner than anyone would've thought; but Vic was actually looking forward to this triple threat match.
VM: "Granted, I should've been facing Moira for MY title, but this is a curveball, hey, if I get myself a win over the number one contender and then if Moira beats Fiona, that means that I'll have a claim to getting my Women's Championship back...oh god, Victoria, you are a genius, petal. I'll need to take this a bit more seriously though, got to be at my best to take on Moira and Charlotte, eh, one more bit of ice cream couldn't hurt"
With her spirits slightly lifted, Victoria hummed Little Mix's 'Power', her theme song, as she left the shot to get herself another tub of ice cream as the camera cut to black.
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Post by Moira Arches on Jun 13, 2021 14:09:39 GMT
-First Call-
***She’s out there somewhere. Soaring through the uncharted depths of success; a vast cosmos of unfamiliar feelings. It was a journey that a part of her thought would never take place. There were moments that it seemed like it would just be a forever lasting, empty dream lost to a void. A figment of her imagination that could still leave a physical scar. But that was not the case. She had prevailed, and with great aplomb. The agonizing, baneful worms of doubt tried to eat away at her confidence, but it was not to be. Where they may have dined on flesh was now replaced with a poison of passion and determination. There would be no second guessing, at least not for a moment or two. The world was changing in many ways for her and at the speed of light. It was almost too much to handle in the days leading up to her debut, but she pulled through. And came out the other side of distress with a victory.
The accelerated rate that her life was suddenly changing may have been more of a hurdle than it was had this been the same Moira from just a few years ago. She could never just accept the fact that sometimes good things happen to people in life and would self-sabotage anything that even remotely felt like it was enough to change the rigid stability her life provided. But the whole point of embarking on this odyssey that was professional wrestling was to push herself beyond those negative emotions. She no longer wanted to be an adult woman who was controlled by the gremlins of her youth. For years, all anyone told her was how good she was and how bright her future was in the world of gymnastics and wrestling if she ever chose to do it. But when she gazed into a mirror, all she could see was the building sense of greed, self-importance, and arrogance that came with it. It reminded her of her father. The last person she ever wanted to be compared to.
I bet he was proud of me last night, though.
Moira was lying in bed on her side, unable to sleep in part because of still trying to adjust to the time difference and because of how beat up she was after surviving the Open Invitational match at the last episode of First Class. She had plenty of exhibition matches while training the past two years, but had never been in a full bore, all out match like that and she could feel it. She turned over onto her back and let out an audible grunt due to pain somewhere in her core. It still had not dawned on her what had happened the night before and what it all meant for her future. But she knew one thing: she was excited for once. And felt like there was something that she needed to do that she had been putting off for the past 24 hours. So, she reached over to her nightstand to grab her phone and found her father’s number in the contacts. It rang through to the voicemail, though it was still just the early evening there. A part of her was hoping that it would go to voicemail.
Moira Arches: “Hi, sorry I missed your call yesterday, I was so overwhelmed with everything and didn’t get a chance to call you back. I know Mom left me a message, so did Aunt Cara. I’m glad you guys were able to see the show, and I hope…well, I hope you guys are proud of me. Anyway, I guess I’ll try again some other time. Bye.”
She hung up and let the phone fall to her chest. Moments later, it began to buzz. Her father was calling her back and for some reason this surprised her.
Moira Arches: “Hello, that was fast.”
Mike Arches: “Hey there, kiddo. Yeah, sorry I missed it the first time. Your mom and I are just getting back from dinner with some of her work pals.”
Moira Arches: “I’m still getting used to this time difference, it’s so odd knowing that you guys are just finished eating dinner and I’m over here in bed.”
Mike Arches: “Speaking of which, why aren’t you asleep? Let me guess, in too much pain?”
She laughed at the fact that she was not surprised whatsoever that he knew she was hurting.
Moira Arches: “Yeah, I definitely wasn’t prepared for this part of the whole thing. No matter how much they beat us up at the Academy, it’s nothing like how hard most of those girls could go. Did you see it?”
Mike Arches: “Of course I did, your mom was never going to let me miss it.”
Moira Arches: “So you only watched because Mom made you? I see.”
She could feel it again, that all too familiar cloud of negativity began to swirl around her mind.
Mike Arches: “Are you kidding me, Mo? I wouldn’t have missed it for the world! Another Arches kicking ass on a big-time wrestling show, this time without having to have do it with an awful last name like Angelo. It was amazing, you did amazing. Katya and Tyler really did a great job with you. You made me proud out there, kid.”
For reasons she could not explain, she began to cry. It wasn’t because he hadn’t told her she was good before, but rather because it never felt real before. She always knew that he supported her, no matter what she was doing, but to finally gain that seal of approval for something he was so good at for so long meant the world to her. She wasn’t doing this just to impress him or to make him proud, but it certainly made it feel all the more worth the time and energy.
Moira Arches: “Thanks, Dad. That means a lot to me to know that you’re proud.”
Mike Arches: “How could I not be? It was your first real match and you looked better out there than I did in my first two years in the business.”
Moira Arches: “Thanks again, I gave it everything I had. Was there anything I could have done better? I figure that I have a pretty valuable resource to get critiqued by, may as well use it.”
Mike Arches: “Now you’re sounding more and more like me every day, not surprised though, it's in your blood. I will say that there were times during the match that I could tell you were pressing too hard. I realize it’s hard not to be over excited wrestling in front a crowd for the first time and for television, but you let yourself move too quick and it cost you some opportunities. Otherwise, I can see why you were the prize pupil everyone touted you as. Can’t say the finish was what I was expecting, but it was something that I wouldn’t have passed up taking advantage of. In fact, I’m pretty sure there were plenty of times I won the same way.”
She was no longer crying and had sat up in her bed. There was never anything in her life that got her father to open up and talk to her about in this much detail. She could tell that was excited for her and ecstatic to talk about wrestling with her.
Moira Arches: “I really didn’t even have much idea what was going on in those last few moments. Taylor had rung my bell pretty good with her stomp and the next thing I knew, she was laid out there in front of me. I didn’t find out what actually happened until after I got to the back and watched the replay.”
Mike Arches: “How’d that make you feel? Getting a win like that?”
Moira Arches: “I wanted to win on my own. I didn’t need any help, even though I don’t think Victoria was trying to help me so much as she was just trying to go after Taylor. I would have rather had just lost instead of getting a win like that, if I’m being honest.”
Mike Arches: “But you got the win. You’re the Number One contender now already after your first match, that’s huge. And it’s all you should really care about.”
Moira Arches: “I have morals, Dad. Or, at least, I’ve been trying to have some.”
Mike Arches: “Alright, but just keep in mind the reason you got into this business in the first place. To win, become a champion, and make a name for yourself.”
She let out a sigh.
Moira Arches: “No, Dad. That’s why you got into the business. Look, I have to go and try to get some sleep, okay? Tell Mom I said hey, and I’ll call her tomorrow when I get a chance.”
Mike Arches: “Alright, kid. I love you.”
Moira Arches: “Okay, bye.”
Those tears from earlier came once more as she hung up the phone, but this time they made more sense. As much as she loved having her father be a part of her life again and how much they have in common now, she couldn’t help but feel like he still didn’t understand the whole point of what she was trying to accomplish the past two years. It wasn’t just about becoming a great wrestler or building on the legacy of the family in the business, it was about becoming a better person and reconciling with the people in her life that she once took for granted. But she knew that she couldn’t expect him to change from who he had always been, at least not so soon. She tried to remember that and to not let things bother her so much.
Just be happy, you idiot. That’s the most you’ve gotten out of him in years.***
The scene opens with a very battered and bruised looking Moira Arches leaning with her back against the railing of an overpass somewhere in the city. She had a black eye, the origin of who did it could not be determined after such an intense match with such intense opponents. She looked as though she hadn’t slept in a few days yet had an aura of confidence in her eyes that betrayed the way her body looked and felt. The bridge was empty besides her and the lone IIW intern holding the camera to which she began to speak into.
Moira Arches: “The Absolute Moira Arches. Number. One. Contender. I would be lying if I said that didn’t sound pretty darn good. I’d also be lying if I said I truly expected it to happen. Sure, down the road maybe after I’ve gotten a few wins here and there, but not after my first match. But that’s the crazy thing about life. It sometimes throws these kinds of positives your way, and I’m only just recently learning how to accept that. And now I’m going to take this big positive and run with it. I already knew that I was good enough to win, but now I’m just glad that everyone else finally got to see how good I am.”
She adjusts herself so that she has got one leg up on the railing behind her and puts her weight on both elbows before continuing. The pain she’s in is clear thanks to her facial expressions.
Moira Arches: “I will say this about the rest of the women in the match. You are all on another level and surprised me big time. I knew it was going to be a tough, physical match, but I had no idea I was going to have to go through a trial like that. I used to watch most of you guys on FCPW and would think to myself…yeah, I could hang with them. But once I got into the ring and the bell rung, I had second thoughts. Eve The Monstress is a beast. Alequeesha too. And that’s to say nothing of the rest of the talent in the ring like Taylor and Casie. I realize that I’m going to have to really go all out when it comes to training and getting strong and getting better. Because there is no way I’m going to last if I ever underestimate anyone like that again. I brought my A-Game, and while that was enough to get the win, I’m going to have to try and step it up even more and bring the A+ next time I step into an IIW ring.”
Moira Arches: “I have to hand it to Charlotte, as well, one of my opponents in my next match. I think I’m probably not alone in saying that she looked very impressive in the Invitational. And I can attest to just how talented she is in there. As I mentioned before the match, it seemed like we had a lot of parallels between the two of us, at least in some regards, and I think the two of us showed the world just how good we are and that we’re going to be a force in this company for a long time. I may not agree with the attitude that you showed before the match, but I can respect your talent. You’re good, and I know you’re going to bring it yet again in the Triple Threat match at the next First Class. But for as good as you are out there, I am better. For as tough as you were in the ring, I’m tougher. And for all the potential you have, I have more. When we step in the ring together again, you’re going to learn once more just how much better I really am. You might always have the benefit of being who are you and who you’re related too, but I happen to come from a pretty successful family myself when it comes to this business. And I’m sure that even after I beat you, and Victoria, in the Triple Threat, the two of us are going to be intertwined for quite some time in this company. The future is bright, my friend, for us both. But mine shines just a little bit brighter.”
She stands back up from the wall and paces back and forth within frame while continuing to talk.
Moira Arches: “That brings me to someone else in the match that I’d like to congratulate. Taylor Blazer. I have to say, you were probably the MVP of that match. And, I have to ask, did you feel the chemistry that we had when working together out there? There was something between us in the ring that I think the old-timers call magic and I think it’s something that the two of us should explore down the road. After you get your whole attitude and personality sorted out, that is. For all the talent you have, I really feel like you’re holding yourself back by acting the way you do. It’s not the kind of person I’d want to associate myself with normally, but there is just something about you that I know is too good to pass up or ignore. You’ve got some legit talent, and you hit harder than anyone in that match. And, I’d also like to apologize to you outright. I had nothing to do with Victoria running in and taking you out like that. In fact, I didn’t even see it happen. You had me seeing stars and I was running on nothing but pure adrenaline at that point in the match. I didn’t want her help, and I didn’t need her help. Would you have beaten me if she didn’t run in? Maybe. But I owe you an apology and wish that I could have beaten you clean. Like I know I’m capable of. I’m trying my hardest to be a better person in life, and that’s not the way I want things to go down. Casie may think that the world is a shade of gray, but I don’t.”
Moira Arches: “In fact, Casie, you still don’t get it do you? I’m not like you and I’m never going to be like you. You know who else I’m not? Shawn King. Tyler Hawk. Riley Andrews. Fred Debonair. Or even Mike Angelo. I am an individual and I will not let you compare me to evil deeds of my family, or your family. I didn’t come to the IIW to fight you, Casie. I came here make a name for myself and to build on a legacy of my own. You can claim that life has no good and no evil, but I don’t believe that. I think we all have a true self that falls into one of those two categories. Pretending that you’re somewhere in the middle is just a way for you to justify the kind of bad things you say and do to other people. I hope you realize now that I’m not just that little kid you remember and that I am here for a purpose. And I’m here for a reason that perhaps you don’t even truly see yet. You and I probably have a lot more catching up to do, but I’d rather we just save that for a time and place somewhere down the road. Because, like I said, I’m not here because of you.”
She stops pacing and is again in the center of the shot. She turns towards the camera and puts her hands on her hips.
Moira Arches: “What I am here to do is to build upon my win and prove to the world of wrestling why I am the number one contender and to prove that it’s not a fluke. I am going to do that by beating Charlotte and by beating Victoria come First Class. Queen Victoria, the former champion, thinks that she’s going to earn her right to another title shot by beating me? That is reasonable logic and makes sense that she assumes it would be so easy to do considering she doesn’t really know much about me just yet. But what she fails to realize is that it’s not going to be so cut and dry. She may be an intimidating force in the ring, but she can’t just walk her way through myself, or Charlotte, and think she’s going to have an easy time of it because we’re both new. And besides, Vic, I kind of have a beef with you. You interfered and practically handed me the victory when I never asked for that. I didn’t want people questioning whether or not I actually earned the win. I wanted it to be proven by how I performed in the ring and how much heart I gave. Yet, you went ahead and decided that you just had to attack Taylor and steal the spotlight. That’s not cool, and not something a champion should lower themselves to do. And though you ended up losing the title, you obviously held it for good reason before that.”
Moira Arches: “And it’s that mistake you made that led to your downfall, isn’t it? You got a taste of your own medicine and it cost you your title. Maybe that’s a sign moving forward as far as how you should go about things? Sneak attacks are for cowards, and you don’t seem to be a coward, Vic. Taylor doesn’t seem to be one either, but she did what she had to do because of what you did. And now Fiona is the champion. At least, she is, until she faces me down the road. We all make mistakes in life, and sometimes we have to live with the consequences that those mistakes create. It’s a tangled web you’ve created for yourself, Queen Victoria, but it’s sent a fracture all down the women’s division and now you have to live with that. Maybe you will get a shot against me when I win the title. Maybe I can’t beat Fiona and you get another shot at her. Who knows? But I hope you don’t take me too lightly, and I hope you don’t take Charlotte lightly either. You may not know either of us, but we’re both not here to be walked over, I imagine. I’m not, at least. And I am also not going to be a bump in a road for you, or her. I’ll be taking the high road, and you just might be forced to come First Class.”
The scene fades away into the darkness. A darkness not unlike that vast cosmos of unfamiliar feelings Moira had been experiencing nonstop since her victory. The first of many yet to come.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2021 16:05:42 GMT
This was a fairly different type of promo from Victoria McKenzie, she had just heard the fiery promo that Moira Arches had cut and, now that her hangover had worn off; she had actually gone through and rewatched the show where she lost the championship to Fiona Harris in a classic match after interference from Taylor Blazer and a Bitch Stomp. The 25 year old former IIW Women's Champion did have a few things to say, as she sat in front of her web-cam and just started to talk.
VM: "First of all, I owe both of you an apology, Charlotte Vaughan and Moira Arches; I barely touched on either of you the last time I spoke about this little match that we're having...but then I saw what you had to say Moira and I'm going to come back to your words in a bit."
Victoria adjusted herself slightly on her seat and continued to speak, sounding fairly chipper, as chipper as the powerhouse from Newcastle-Upon-Tyne could sound with her Geordie accent.
VM: "But I realised that I didn't know as much about you as I thought that I did; so I decided to rewatch the First Class show where I...failed to regain my women's championship; but, as I watched both you two go to work, I have to admit that I should be taking this a bit more seriously, I mean, Charlotte, who I barely touched on in my previous statement, actually eliminated Eva The Monstress and I didn't even mention it, probably because I was in the back, getting ready for my match...but now I realise that I've got to take you seriously and, you know what? I'm really glad, because I love nothing more than a good fight and anyone who beats Eva is someone who can make things interesting."
The Geordie former champion gave a few claps to Charlotte for her effort as she continued her little speech.
VM: "Now we move on to Moira Arches, the woman who shocked the world and did what nobody thought that she could do when she became the number one contender for MY title; and, believe me, no disrespect to Fiona, but it won't be long before that title is back around the waist of Queen Victoria...but, anyway, I heard what you said about me and, honestly, Moira, you hurt my feelings, I saw you about to lose, your dreams were going to be crushed by that twat-basket Taylor Blazer, she's nothing but a bully and there's nothing I hate more than a bully...so I helped you out and you just throw it back in my face?!"
Victoria's tone was now a tone of entitled disrespect, like she couldn't believe that Moira had the nerve to say that she didn't want or appreciate Victoria's 'help', but, as the young woman continued, her tone dripped with passive aggressiveness, like she was talking down to a child, showing what she really thought of both Charlotte and Moira.
VM: "I tried to help you, Arches and I was the person who wanted you to achieve your dream and you just disrespect me like that?? Oh, petal, I don't take that type of attitude; you see, there's something you need to know about this industry, Nice Girls Finish Last...this is an industry that will chew you up and spit you out for the smallest of things! You have to take help when you get it and don't question it; I think that you'd have to be a fool not to be impressed by what both of you and Charlotte accomplished in that Elimination match. But it's clear that you've got a lot to learn about wrestling, sometimes it's kill or be killed, think of it as the law of the jungle, only the strong survive!"
Victoria's tone got slightly more aggressive and cold compared to the cocky, condescension that she had shown earlier, her eyes narrowed as the thoughts of how she lost her championship were still fresh in her mind.
VM: "Then, you have the gall, the NERVE to call ME a coward...you go on this outdated views of what a champion should and shouldn't be and what they should and shouldn't do?...I have been through so much shit in my life! I have been bullied, harassed, mocked and made fun of! There's was more than one time where I was running home from school, with tears streaming down my face!"
This was the most aggressive that Victoria had ever sounded as she was actually full on yelling at this point, obviously Moira's remarks had gotten under her skin more than the former champion wanted to let on at the start of her little promo, with her eyes full of fire, Vic was showing how pissed off she could be at something that others wouldn't be bothered by.
VM: "That championship, no, MY championship was the proof that I needed that I had succeeded, that I was better than everyone who had bullied me and looked down on me! That belt was my validation that I had made it! So don't you fucking dare talk about what it means to be a champion; because I know exactly what it means!! I have sacrificed so much, I've missed birthdays, I've lost friendships and I've done things that I honestly regret, all in pursuit of championship gold!! Moira Arches, you little piece of shit, you've got no right to lecture me on what a champion is and isn't because I've had to pay the price!"
Victoria actually had to stop, it seemed like she was on the verge of just breaking down in tears, she was shaking, her eyes were looking like they were going to start crying and her breathing became shaky; she stopped herself and took a shaky breath before finishing it off, trying to move past that outburst by covering it up with some her trademark bravado and arrogance, but it was just a mask at this point.
VM: "This is not going to be an easy match, this is going to be a showcase of three of the future of this company and this industry; but this isn't about me being bigger, or my size advantage, I could be the smallest person in that ring, but I have the hunger! I have the desire to get back my championship and take out the person who took that belt from me! I have a hunger and a feeling inside of me that can't think of anything else but regaining what is rightfully mine! I hope that everyone and anyone who gets in the ring with me is ready, because you're all on notice, no matter how good you all are, no matter how tough and no matter how talented...I see you all as building blocks, with every win, I'll be that much closer to getting my belt back and proving why I am the Biggest, Baddest and Most Beautiful Brit In The Building! Now, Charlotte and Moira, I wish you both the best of luck, because you're seriously going to need it!"
With that, Victoria switched her camera off.
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Post by Ashley Vaughan on Jun 13, 2021 20:52:47 GMT
Queens need thrones. Commoners sit in chairs. In the middle of this room is no simple chair, this is an ornate, finely carved piece of furniture fit only for the exquisitely shaped backside of a queen, but there's no such figurehead here, not at least yet anyway.
Instead in this room, lined with the illustrious posters and banners of bygone IIW events, there is a man in a top hat and petticoat. A finely dressed man, a fancy man if you will. This is not about him, but he is where we start.
Fancy Man- Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my esteemed pleasure to introduce to you to the First Lady of IIW, the finest athlete to grace First Class, and the Queen of Professional Wrestling, Ms. Charlotte Vaughan!
The Great Gate of Kiev plays as elegance personified makes her way gracefully to the finely carved, high back antique wooden throne sitting in the center of the room. A truly loyal servant, the Fancy Man bows for his Queen and backs out of the picture entirely.
The woman, having taken her place gently smooths out her platinum blonde hair before addressing her subjects.
Charlotte- How quaint, the plight of the commoners. How rustic their problems seem. 'My win is tainted by interference', and 'I was robbed of my title'. Like anyone genuinely cares for you or your issues. Please.
The ruby red lips that curl themselves into a condescending sneer stand out in stark contrast to the porcelain skin they are set upon. A long leg, perfect in shape, ivory in color hangs distractingly through the slit in the Queen's glossy black dress.
Charlotte- Moira, ease your burdened mind, no one compares you to your father... Mostly because no one knows who he is!
She lets out a cruel chuckle.
Charlotte- As for your win, rest assured that your win was not clean, but take Victoria's word for it, sometimes when you want to succeed you need to get your hands dirty. Just look at our portly opponent's shining example. She was more than willing to get her hands dirty. She did you a favor and won your match for you. What did you honestly think happened? Did you think when you had been knocked silly that Taylor had simple gotten tired and laid down to wait for you to throw her out? I hardly think so.
Did you stop for a moment to check on her? Of course not. Instead you dropped the pretence of your morals at the first possible opportunity and won by any means. For that I applaud you.
She gives a slow condescending clap.
Charlotte- Don't you find it interesting that Taylor was the one that Victoria attacked in the first place? I certainly do. She could just have easily gone for you, but no, she opted for Taylor, the bigger threat. And why not? With me out of the match at that point Taylor was the biggest threat. Unfortunately Victoria made her own bed and now she must lay in it.
Apropos Victoria, that you should interject yourself into someone else's business because you feared the challenge that Taylor will no doubt pose to you, and instead cost yourself what you held most dear, the FCPW Womens Championship. I wouldn't for a moment claim that the title now held by Fiona Harris was ever yours Victoria, because let's be realistic, it wasn't. You were the FCPW Womens Champion, which made a puffer fish like you look very big in the incredibly small pond that was First Class Pro Wrestling. Times have since changed and that very small pond has eroded into the vast ocean that is the kingdom of IIW, a vast professional wrestling empire built by my father and now, being passed down into my very capable hands.
She pauses, examining her own very well manicured, soft, feminine but powerful hands. If one was of the taste to notice such details one would notice her nails are the same color as her lips.
Charlotte- You may have been an intimidating force where you came from Victoria, but behold true royalty in this business. You pretended to be a big thing when no one was your physical equal, but the only big thing about you are your thighs. You thought yourself superior when you travelled to Canada and played Queen, but you were a commoner among animals. You're back in civilization now, a frumpy wench exposed as you deserve to be. No gold to insulate you against reality. That reality is that you're tiny little fiefdom has been overtaken by a true kingdom. Built by my father inherited to the one that deserves it most. Me. What do you do Victoria when your bullying in the colonies is exposed by a far superior athlete who can woman-handle you despite the frame your Henry the Eighth inspired build gives you? Further, what hope have you when you face a woman who you frankly embarrassed in the ring by stealing her moment of glory.
She flashes that cruel smile again.
Charlotte- Of course that's you, Moira. Such a common name. Moira, like you were raised among pigs, but then, you were weren't you?
She laughs a cruel vindictive laugh.
Charlotte- But I jest, I'm a monarch of the people and people like you need a laugh to forget the burden of your lives don't you? After all, you did impress far and wide with your win in the Open Invitational and earn yourself the title of number one contender, but it nearly killed you. Reality crashed down hard upon you and your skeletal structure and gravity reminded you that maybe you're not cut out for this. After all that was one match and you've already got one foot in a hospital bed. What are you to do when a real challenge faces you? What are you to do when you do stand toe to toe with someone as athletically gifted as you, but not possessing the same moral handicap? What about if you have to face two? In the very same match? What are you to do, Moira? When you have to face two larger, tougher, more dubious opponents without the luxury of being able to simply rely on everyone else to do your work for you. You won't have Taylor and myself to clear the field for you, you won't have Victoria to earn you your win. Let's see how you do then.
But, oh, don't worry Moira, I'll handle that hard phone call, that bitter pill, you'll have to swallow when you make that phone call to your dad and tell him that you didn't do it. That everyone was right about you and despite all you can do, IIW is just a little bit out of your league yet and you couldn't handle a real match. Don't worry Moira, I'll make that call for you and tell him how you sounded when you sobbed, head in hands after I pinned you in the middle of the ring. Oh, I do plan on pinning you Moira. It's nothing personal, but it strikes me as the easiest path to victory to toss a small Volkswagen named Victoria onto you and then pin you to the mat. You're already physically damaged, anyone can see that, but I'll give your dad your hospital room number in case he's decided that even though you were ultimately a failure, he's proud of you for trying and wants to come visit.
She lets out that sharp laugh again, amused by her own cruelty.
Charlotte- Now you, Victoria, you I can't help. Your mother expects those sad, sobbing, pissed phone calls at all hours of the morning where you lament your latest failures and she reassures you that, despite having the personality and countenance of a horned toad, that someday someone somewhere will love you, even after you let them down the way you always will.
But tell you what, I'm not the heartless bitch you might take me for. Just between us girls, from one Queen to a much lesser, if you're really that broken up after you crack under pressure yet again, I will slide you my half brother Curtis' phone number and when he inevitably turns you down because the sweet, gold hearted little idiot is too pure to make you a woman, I'm sure he'll gladly pass you along to Bam Miller, who seems like he'd gladly bed a farm animal after a night of binge drinking.
That cruel, sharp laugh rings out again from the Queen who enjoys nothing more than torturing her subjects, and the scene fades to black save one word.
Kneel.
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Post by Moira Arches on Jun 16, 2021 22:25:26 GMT
-No Crown Needed-
***A single life was lost once hundreds of years ago that would lead to the deaths of thousands. A group of men came to Manchester to force change and ended up killing a man. It was the start of a Civil War, not the first nor likely the last, and would see the rise and fall of many along the way. At its roots, it was a war for power and authority, like all wars. The cost of life and property would be great. And all for what? In the end, nothing had really changed. The people still struggled for the bare necessities, while the royals lived lives of ease and wealth. But had the other side won, there would not have been any real change regardless. Power corrupts people at the deepest levels of their psyche. Even the purest eventually fall to its intoxicating and inviting lure. Those with even the best intentions will eventually succumb to it and become what they had once so vehemently opposed. This is just one example in a long, twisted history of war caused by such a lust for power. Not just of this place, but all around the world. Each page a reminder and just another fragile brick in a tower built upon the pain of others from those in power. The hunger for privilege always came at the expense of the hunger of the common man. Whether it is royalty or authority, it will eventually change someone for the worse the longer they have it. The most heartbreaking example of it are those born into it; for they never had the choice to be anything but tainted by the corruption it brings. They will never understand what it is like to live a life without the benefits that power brings. Just like I’ll never understand what it is like to live a life of heartlessness and fueled by arrogance and greed. But the desire for more understanding is what brought Moira to this place today; the John Rylands Research Institute in the heart of Manchester. She was still learning the city and decided that she would take a day off from training and the gym to explore for the first time. But she did not want to just sightsee, however, as she had to continue to mentally prepare for her next match. She was coming off a big, unexpected win, and did not want to be caught slacking now; not just physically, but mentally. She had found a small, tucked away alcove in the historic reading room to look over the texts that she had requested to be pulled. There was something to be gained from the majestic architecture and the amount of history under one roof that was really lifting her spirits. Scribe: “Mrs. Arches? I believe I have the texts that you asked for. All concerning wars involving the Kingdom of England, is that correct?” Moira was bit surprised by the man interrupting the silence and jumped in her seat, as she had been lost in thought while admiring the pristine condition of the reading room. Moira Arches: “Oh, why yes, yes that would be me. Sorry, I didn’t hear you coming.” Scribe: “Entirely my fault, madam. I should have been more apparent in my approach.”
Moira Arches: “No, no, it’s fine. My mind tends to wander at the most inopportune times.” Scribe: “Well, there is no better place for a mind to wander than at a library, madam.” Moira smiled at the kind elderly man, who she also realized was the first person she had interacted with outside of the IIW since coming to the UK. Moira Arches: “That’s very true, Mister…?” Scribe: “Odom.” Moira Arches: “Mr. Odom, may I ask you something that may not entirely make any sense?” Mr. Odom: “It would be an honor, I’m sure.” Moira Arches: “I’m not from here, as you could probably tell by my lack of an accent. Or, I suppose, my different accent. And I am trying to piece together a narrative in my mind to help me with a problem that I am facing in the very near future.” Mr. Odom: “That seems to be a struggle that many do face day in and day out. I am unsure what it is you’re asking of me, however.” Moira Arches: “Right, well, I asked you to bring these books because I’m trying to better understand the mindset of those in royalty.” Mr. Odom: “Well, the Royal Family has a long and often bewildering history, madam. I am sure there is much to be learned.” Moira Arches: “Oh, no. I don’t mean the actual royal family, I just meant that I’m trying to get a better idea of the reasoning behind people in those types of dynamics act the way they day and say the things that they say.” The man had a puzzled look on his face, and Moira knew that if the library had been busier, he may not have stayed as long to entertain her thoughts on the matter. Moira Arches: “Let me start over, sorry. So, this…conflict, we’ll call it, that I am having soon. It involves two people who both like to act as if they are royalty. In fact, they both call themselves queen and one of them goes so far as to act like she is one when she obviously is not. I’ve never encountered such delusional people in my life and it baffles me.” Mr. Odom: “Well, though I can’t speak of these women on a personal level, I can attest to the fact that many people often see themselves as being of utmost importance in the kingdom that is their own lives.” Moira Arches: “Yeah, that makes sense. But what about if one of them, like…actually believes that they’re a queen?” Mr. Odom: “Perhaps that is a question best left to the mental health professionals, and not a lowly scribe, madam.” It took everything in Moira to not burst out in a hearty laugh in the middle of a library at the suggestion from the man. Moira Arches: “You may not be so far off in that estimation, Mr. Odom!” She thanked the man for his time, and for his assistance in bringing her the various titles that she had requested. The rest of the morning and afternoon was spent researching the long list of battles and history involved with both the city of Manchester and the rest of the UK. What she took away from the day of reading was that most of the struggles were born out of the desire and ignorance of those in power. That was no different than many other countries, or many other conflicts in general. It all came down to one side wanting something that the other side has and fighting over it. And the “want” was often due in part to the belief that it was a guarantee in life for the one wanting it. The arrogance of the aristocratic mindset was something not just reserved for actual royalty. It was a disease of the mind that so many would find themselves inflicted with.
***Moira was alone again. This time, it was late at night, in the living area of the tiny flat that she had found in the city near the arena. She had on just her simple yoga pants and sports bra that she would always wear to bed. But though the hour was late, she did not appear to be tired at all. She was sitting on the little couch that came furnished with the room, with the only light coming from the small lamp on the end table next to her. She found a way to prop her phone up on the television stand across from where she sat, and had begun to record herself, hoping that it she could at least be seen a bit in the light.
Moira Arches: “I can’t sleep, as usual. So, you know what? I figured I’d address the two mice in the house instead. That pair of women who for various reasons both like to be called queen, Victoria McKenzie and Charlotte Vaughan. You both have sure had a lot to say the last few days, huh? You know what the best part of all that talk has been? Seeing just how upset you both seem by the fact that I walked into the Open Invitational a literal unknown and walked out as the new Number One contender. Victoria, you know darn well that you didn’t do what you did to Taylor for my benefit. I just happened to be the last one standing when you committed that heinous act. And you already know that I didn’t want your help or need your help. I had made it to the final two of the match because of my ability in between those ropes. Taylor and I proved during the match that we were the two best wrestlers out there, and that’s why we made it to the end. Charlotte, you weren’t even good enough to make it to that point, but I’ll get to that in a bit.”
Moira Arches: “Victoria, you might think that only the strongest survive in this business. But your idea of what it is to be strong is flawed. Anyone can be perfectly happy with taking advantage of…advantageous situations, no matter how those situations came about. That doesn’t make you strong, that just makes you a bit of an opportunist. Real strength comes from admitting that you don’t always have to win. Sometimes the real victory is showing the world the kind of character you have and the resolve deep in your heart to make things right in the face of struggle. Some of us struggle with this more than others, as I have lived with it my entire life. But I can sit here and proudly say that I believe that there is still good and evil, right and wrong, in the world and in wrestling. I think there is a part of you that can see the truth in what I am saying, Victoria.”
She leans forward a bit on the couch, the shadows forming on her face making it harder to see her features.
Moira Arches: “Look, I can appreciate where you’re coming from. If you’ve lived a life full of the hardships that you claim you have, it would make sense that you’d have a harder time seeing through the nonsense and want to just take everything you can take. You just want to be on top and win and it doesn’t matter how you get there, right? But I’d encourage you to take a moment and imagine how lonely that existence would be once you burn every bridge, and nobody trusts you. You’ll be sitting there, maybe holding onto that belt you used to have, all alone and wondering just why you feel so empty. You will feel strong, all the while living a life of weakness. It’s not a good place to be, Vic, trust me.”
Moira Arches: “I see something in you, that you might not see. There is someone with a sense of purpose and a sense of right from wrong. There is a champion in you that you weren’t before, and aren’t now, and I think you know that. You could be legitimately stronger, and I don’t just mean from your already obvious physical strength. I mean a stronger person and someone that others could look up to. You aren’t that right now, but it’s there. But I think that until you realize that, you’re always going to come up short. And you’re always going to end up getting beat. And that’s what is going to happen come First Class. You’re going to lose, and you’re going to be mad, and you’re going to make a big fuss about it. And yet that small part of you is going to understand why it happened. Because you have something in you that could be something…better. The same thing can’t be said for the other partner in our little dance we have coming up.”
She sits back and crosses her legs. Her face was back in view, showing just how firm and intense her gaze had become at the mention of Charlotte.
Moira Arches: “There is a big difference between the two of you. And I don’t mean the obvious physical difference. No, you see, any bit of a different…better person I see in McKenzie doesn’t exists inside of you, Charlotte. It’s very clear that there is nothing in you but an overinflated and undeserved ego. You are the very posterchild of entitled self-centeredness. But the thing that I am struggling the most to understand through your vulgar tone is just where this sense of worth comes from? Like, okay, I get it…your last name is Vaughan. But what is it that you have actually accomplished to act like you’re so much better than everyone else? I admit that I have a lot to learn about you and your past, but you have had one match that I have seen. And you lost. To me. But not only did you lose, you didn’t even make it to the end of the match. You were eliminated by someone better, and they didn’t have to even questions whether or not it was legit because nobody interfered to do it. It’s mind boggling to me the amount of arrogance you have when you weren’t even good enough to last the entire match, let alone win the thing. Sure, you looked impressive for the time you did spend in the match, but it was far from good enough, now, wasn't it?”
Moira Arches: “You see, that’s the reason I took a break from working out today and why I went to do a little research. Not on you, of course, because I honestly don’t believe there is much to learn about you that isn’t blatantly obvious. You’re a narcissist who wants everything handed to them without having to actually work for it. You’re as deep as a puddle. No, you see, I wanted to learn more about why you feel that way. That led me down a long path of betrayal, struggle, concession, and entitlement. The more I read, the more it made sense. You identify yourself with being this regal, majestic entity because you have never had to live through real struggle. The ego and the self-inflation make sense to me now, as does the nasty attitude. You think you’re better than everyone else because nobody has ever had to tell you that you aren’t. Well, Charlotte, let me be the first to say so…you aren’t.”
Her voice remained as strong as it had from the beginning of the promo but seemed to have more of an edge now. It was if she was becoming fully engrossed in The Absolute mindset.
Moira Arches: “Everyone may know your family, but nobody really knows about you and frankly, I’m not sure anyone cares if this is the type of person you’re going to be. You say that nobody cares if I live up to my name because nobody knows who my father is? Well, see, you’re wrong about that too. You want to know who my father is and what he’s done in this business and why I am trying so hard to be like him while still making a name all my own? Just go ask Tyler Debonair, he knows who my father is. Go ask my old babysitter and the woman who eliminated you in the Open Invitational, Casie, who my father is. Go ask MJ, even. Heck, even John Cavanagh might remember him too. The fact of the matter is that the world doesn’t revolve around you or your family, Charlotte. There are people out there who have done something with their lives and had to earn the praise that you so desperately seem to crave. And there are people, like myself, who are more than happy and willing to work hard to earn it.”
Moira Arches: “But you know what, feel free to continue to overlook me. Feel free to assume that my win was a fluke, even though I had made it to the end of the match, and you hadn’t. Feel free to assume that I am just a commoner with problems that don’t matter. That is only just going to make it even more rewarding when I am standing tall with my arm raised once again at First Class. I’m going to literally kick that metaphorical crown off the top of that head of yours.”
She stands up from the couch and crouches down in front of the phone, her figure becoming nothing more than a shadow in the light behind her on screen.
Moira Arches: “The three of us are going to have ourselves quite the hard-hitting match. I think we can all three agree on that. And that might be the only thing we’ll ever see eye to eye on. I’m not going to back down from either of you. You’re both going to be a challenge for me in different ways, but the end result is going to be the same no matter what. I’m going to prove to you both, the IIW, and to myself that I have what it takes to be a force in this company. And after I beat the two of you, I’m going to continue to ride that momentum and beat Fiona for the title too. The only thing that has ever stood in the way of my success has been my own self. But I’ll be damned sure to not let that happen this week. You both like to call yourself the queen. But I’m the only one that is going to be ruling the ring. I am the Absolute, and soon you’ll both get another chance to see why. And when your respective kingdoms come crashing down around you, I hope you both understand that it was because of the choices you made.”
With that, she reaches out and ends the promo as the video fades to black.
A single person can change the lives of thousands, for better or worse. A single moment can alter thousands, for better or worse. Moira understands that better than most might considering the world she was born into and ran away from for so long; a world that she was now firmly a part of. She was not here to reign over anyone. She was here to become something different; something better. And soon she would take one more step towards being better. No crown needed.
***
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