This probably wasn’t the best thing to be eating when her next match loomed on the horizon, but she would be damned if she missed out on it. She lowers her head, inhaling the fragrant steam that rose from the contents of the rolled-up newspaper that rose to caress her nostrils. Classic. Iconic. Traditional.
Touristy.
And she loved it.
She plucks a gloriously golden piece of fried cod from the packet and admires it. She should really be having a salad. Or some lean protein. Or anything else depending on what bull was spewed out and taken as gospel among the trainers and fanatical.
Whatever... it was fish.
And she would do some extra exercise to make up for it.
But right now, the only ‘crunch’ she was interested in, was in her hand.
She wraps her lips around the crust of crispy perfection, the piquant tang of the malt vinegar mixing with the gloriously rich taste of the batter, exploding on her tongue in a taste sensation. She closes her eyes on a moan, chewing slowly so that she could savor the flavor better. She swallows. Amazing! She didn’t give a crap if it was stereotypical, it was for a reason as far as she was concerned! She picks up a fry... chip, they were chips here... and pops it into her mouth as she slides backwards on the bench. She crosses her legs at the ankles, stretching them out in front of her as she munches on her meal, eyes wandering around the small park she had wandered into after stopping at the street vendor.
Flowers bloom in a merry riot of colors, bold patterns blanketing the ground, the path weaving its slow way through them, bordered neatly by bricks. It was fairly quiet today, only a handful of people milling about, taking in the air. Some carried their own lunches as they wandered, or were stationed on other benches dotting the area. Still others, earbuds firmly in place, jogged or ran, moving swiftly around the others on the path.
Nova nibbles on another chip as a fuzzy gray squirrel hops its way across towards her, tail flicking. It sits up, its little front paws settled on its chest as it regards her with glittering, dark eyes. She can’t help but smile, leaning forward to stretch her arm out, offering the chip. Its nose twitches, and it inches closer, regarding her warily.
“Come on, it's okay.” she urges softly, putting the food at the very end of her fingertips. The little squirrel wavers, then quick as a flash, snatches the treat and scampers a little way away, holding it neatly as it nibbles on its prize. Nova grins, popping the last bite of fish into her mouth as she watches the adorable little creature. Her father would have loved to be here, not only feeding the squirrel and people watching, but just traveling away from the states in general. It was something he had always wanted to do. And more importantly... she knew he would have loved to have been here to sit in the audience, watching her wrestle and cheering his baby girl on.
She could remember the day like it was yesterday...
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The feel of the ropes digging into her ribs as she bounced off of them, giving her the extra boost as they spring back, propelling her forward across the ring. She ducks by sheer instinct, the arm swung out passing over the top of her head as she carries on, unimpeded to the other ropes. She leaps, her feet connecting with the middle one, her knees bending as her body twists and she springboards off of it. She soars through the air, loving the feel of flying, bracing herself as she slams into the wall of flesh with a flying crossbody, sending them both tumbling to the mat.
She rolls to a seated position, grinning over at a prone Tanner who turns his head, a light bit of laughter coming from him. “Color me impressed! You are just about ready to get in the ring for real. You should probably start looking at feds to try and join if you haven't already.” His words were met with the musical peel of Nova’s giggle. “I’ve been studying them as soon as I signed to train.” she tells him, rising up to stand, as he does the same, both exiting the ring. “Well, pick one. You are just about there girl.” She cannot help the silly grin that spreads across her face. She couldn’t wait to tell her father over dinner.
A quick shower and wardrobe change and she was on her way, sliding behind the wheel of her car and aiming it towards Sunrise Highway.
Her foot presses down on the pedal, eager to get to the little Italian place they had picked out for their weekly dinner together, even though she had plenty of time to spare. She loved Thursday nights for this very reason. Since moving out, getting her own place, a full-time job, training... she didn’t get to spend nearly as much time with her family, particularly her father as she would have liked. Although he had always thought her obsession with wrestling just a phase, as she had grown older and never wavered in her determination, he had become her biggest fan, supporting her through every last step of the way. He had been there to step in when she and her mother quarreled over her future occupation of choice, her more delicate parent insisting that the more sedate job of office work, where she was currently employed, was a much better decision.
He had been there when she had poured over all the different places to train, selecting one and getting in. He had been there to cheer her on as she came home, battered and bruised... in pain and full of exhilaration. He had guided her, pushed her, supported her, and stood by her side whenever she needed anything, even just to talk. She knew he would celebrate with her tonight over some good food and a glass of wine, perhaps even sharing a dish of tiramisu for dessert.
She pulled into the lot and into an empty space, throwing the car into park. She exits it, striding confidently towards the door of the dim little bistro with the best damn eggplant rollatini on the island. She was well aware of eyes turning her way and smirked, eating up the attention. She did always love the spotlight. She wiggles her fingers in the direction of Sal, the owner and slides into the booth they had claimed as their own, every week for the last solid year. She picks up the menu to peruse it, knowing full well she would get the same thing she always did, and proceeded to wait for her father to arrive.
And waited.
And waited.
And waited.
By the time an hour had rolled by, Nova had run out of excuses as to why he was running behind and was starting to get concerned. She had just taken her cell phone out of her purse, slipping out from the table to go outside when it rings. She answers it as she walks across the restaurant, a quiet “Hello?” as to not disturb the other diners. Her mother's panicked voice, screaming fills her ear. “What? I can’t understand you.” Her brother comes on the line, and begins to speak through tears. Nova’s steps falter as the words begin to penetrate.
Car wreck.
Down an embankment.
Jaws of life.
Dead on arrival.
Dead.
Her father was dead.
The world swims before her eyes, careening wildly about as the foundation in her life comes crumbling down. She is vaguely aware of people crying out, coming her way. Her vision goes hazy around the edges, and the ground suddenly seems to be coming up to meet her and it all goes black.
____________________________________________________________________
She jumps, startled out of her memories by the newspaper being yanked out of her hands. “HEY!” She grabs for it, yanking back against the tiny squirrel who had gotten quite bold, and falls into a bit of a tug of war, chips scattering everywhere. She realizes she's fighting a battle for an almost empty piece of paper just as it starts to tear. “Oh, here.” she lets go, and the squirrel runs off with the few chips in the newspaper. “Hope you're happy!” she calls out after it, rising and brushing crumbs off her pants. She begins her walk out of the park, headed towards the arena where she had made her debut recently. She had done all sorts of touristy things, now... was time for a little bit of business.
As she goes along, admiring the architecture and charm of the UK as she goes, her mind rolls back. That night, her career had taken a backseat to her grief. She had been numb, not remembering waking up on the floor of the restaurant, waving off all help. She had somehow driven to her parents' house, and she still to this day had no idea how she made it. She had helped plan the funeral. She had attended it. Given a speech. Stood over her father's grave and placed a flower on it.
And for a year after, could bring herself to do nothing.
Slowly, she had started to pick up the pieces of her life and one of the first things she had done, was make a phone call the Tanner, seeing if her spot was still there.
It was.
She had never looked back, setting out to make her father proud of her- and she was well on her way. Her steps slow as her eyes alight on the IIW building. She lets her gaze roam over it. Soon. So damn soon. Her lips curve upwards, her eyes starting to sparkle. She would be back in there, stepping into the ring in the spotlight once more. She had done what she said she would do... emerging the victor from the chaos that had been the over the top rope royale. Now, she set her eyes on her first one on one competition... and the chance to prove it had not been a fluke. She really was as good as she claimed to be
And was here to stay and slay.
____________________________________________________________________
“Well girls, as dismal and brief as my getting to know you stage with most y’all was... I have to say I told you so. Too bad I didn’t get to have a little bit more time with each of you to show you what I could do... Hell, I barely got to cross paths with some of you. Even more, not at all.
Oh well, at least you got to learn a little bit more about me, that’s the important factor here. You got the opportunity to see just what kind of person is sliding in to usurp all your hard work, cut you off at the pass, and just in general start taking over the spotlight, because after Malevolence, that’s where it is now firmly affixed.
Directly on me, right in the damn center of that ring.
Y’all might think I’m a little too sure of myself, but I can assure you, that time will prove my ego has basis in facts. I will be a superstar here in the IIW, I won’t let the outcome be anything else. It's written in stone. Each and every time I grace someone with my presence and claim victory, I will climb a rung or two higher on this ladder to success, maybe there will be a time or two I slip and lose my footing, but it will never be for long. My only focus is up, and I expect to ascend very quickly. If that ideal and self-assurance makes me a person non grata around here... So be it.
I’m not here to make a new bestie where we braid each other's hair and gossip. I am here to make my name, and to do that... it means beating the biggest stars this company has to offer.
That means the Moiras, the Casies, the Solaces, the Katias and the La Volpe Neras.
You can best believe I had my eyes fixed on the outcomes of their matches, because not only did belts and number one contenderships hang in the balance, I was able to get a better understanding of what my future holds. These women are among the cream of the company right now, some champions, some future champions, one who earned herself a spot as queen. All deserving of my focus... because that is where I want to be.
On top. Isn't that where everyone wants to be?
If you do, you have to prove it, and come ready to do battle. Ready to do anything and everything it takes to show you are deserving of the chance to shine. Including the drudgery of hype work. Some love it, some hate it... me? I take it as another place to sparkle. Another place to get attention turned my way. To not allow myself to fly under the radar. To be on top means putting in the effort, and I have no problem with that.
That brings me to someone who has captured my attention, who seems just as invested in this as I, and who has the same attitude in taking down each and every opponent to emerge on top. The level of boldness and haughtiness on par with my own and I find it quite... intriguing, though she is taking things in a different direction than myself.
Oh Bellatrix, what an absolute pleasure it was to meet you in that ring.
I suppose, we both deal with a certain amount of darkness in our own way, predicting the downfalls and end of the people we faced. Both of us were bold enough to make the assumption that we would be the ones crowned as winner at the end, but only one was right... spoiler! That was me. We are the type to eye our opponents as obstacles to get through to obtain what we really desire. Ones who want to rule the federation on top, not satisfied with being just here, not happy to just win, but to want to be more. To be the ones people look at. To know that we are gazed upon with both fear and awe gloriously mixed together.
But that’s about where it ends.
I’m not sure what your end goal is, as a whole, other than ruin, damnation, hellfire and brimstone and blah blah blah.
Somewhere in that depressing rant about dying and mortality, you did have a few things that I thought I could address, though they were directed at all the competition as a whole, that included me so I have no problems handing out my perspective on them.
First of all, I think you have things a little bit confused, counting every woman as a lamb. Perhaps some are weaker, bleating creatures who are easy to vanquish, but there are those that stride down that ramp a tougher breed, you will not find them quite so easy to slaughter. And still then... there is me. A wolf amongst the flock, and make no bones about it... I feel no need to wear the sheep's clothing. I don’t pretend to be something I am not. I am more predator than prey, and you found that I am not someone who you can just run over. I will not go down with a yelp. No, I will fight you right back. Claw to claw, tooth to tooth... ripping and tearing, willing to make the other bleed and bleed ourselves to see it through until the bitter end.
Do you count yourself as the hand of death Bellatrix? Do you think I fear you? I fear nothing, and nobody. I will gladly walk towards you, across lit coals, through the very pits of hell if it meant accomplishing what I want to do here. To tease and defy the inky blackness of oblivion if it meant getting a chance at a strap around my waste. You don’t frighten me little girl... the prize is worth the risk... if I thought you were what you professed to be.
But you’re not... You won't be the one to take me down. You didn’t in the royale, and you won't in the future should we meet again. You will never make me waver from my chosen path. I looked forward to seeing what you brought, to seeing how you handled yourself, seeing if you were just as tough as you proclaimed yourself to be. To see if indeed you were worthy enough to earn a modicum of my respect, if only in talent alone.
You did, to a point.
Enough to make me desire a one-on-one match to really focus on one another.
You were right about one thing though. I DID choose to walk into this career. I walked in eyes wide open. And I will always walk down that damn ramp and defeat you, and anyone else who gets in my way. And then you know what Bella-baby? I will turn around, and walk right back up into the back, victorious and ready to fight another day. Each and every time.
You.
Cannot.
Destroy.
Me.
And neither can that coward who attacked me after all was said and done. Bravo for what you did. Such a big woman, and you STILL didn’t have the spine to attack me face to face. No, not only did you have to wait until I was done defeating multiple people, you had to sneak up on me with the lights out. How amazing. You sure showed me! Listen honey, I am not all that hard to find. You want me, come get me... and next time? Do it without the Depends to hide that you piss yourself when faced with the option of coming for me with nothing to help your advantage. Chicken.
But before I deal with you, there is another I have to turn my attention to.
Chelsey Chaingang.
Hello there, sweetness. It looks like it's just going to be you and me in this next little First Class show...
Oh, and that chain of yours. Couldn’t possibly forget that!
So, would this constitute a three-way?
In any case, I’m pretty damn down for it. I’ve never been one to back down from any sort of challenge put in front of me, no matter how big it was. It’s always been my goal to ruin people’s views, their thinking that everyone needs to conform into some sort of container deplorable. For far too long, there were those who tried to fit me in some sort of box. Why would I want to be a wrestler? I could be so much more using my looks, my skills, my brain, and on and on and on. They pushed, I pushed back. Broke the mold, defied the odds. Took their box and shoved it right up their... well, you know. Perhaps most women shouldn’t look forward to a match where a weapon is a constant threat looming over them...
But they aren't me.
The thought is kind of exciting to tell you the truth there Chelsey... do you want to know why? It reeks of desperation in my ever so humble opinion. If you feel the tides not in your favor, are you going to go grab your equalizer? Will you doubt your actual talent enough that you will resort to using a weapon to get the job done against someone? Or are you the type of person who will resort to any means necessary to secure a win?
See, I can relate to that... but I also have confidence in my abilities.
I don’t need extras to help me get the job done.
But if you want to whip that chain out Chels, I welcome it. Because if you introduce it to the fight, I am not above using it back so that you can get a taste of it as well. Tit for tat and things like that, am I right? And you know all about that sort of thing, huh?
Doing what you did against someone you had called a friend. Sheesh.
Oh yeah, I kept a close watch on your match at Malevolence too. When I first signed on, and looked over the roster, you were one of the ones who caught my eye, and watching your last couple matches, it seems that I was wise to do so. Especially given the current circumstances.
Now, I don’t profess to know all the details of everything that happened between you and Lien, nor does it really matter to me in any case. If you two want to rip each other to shreds, it has nothing to do with me. But it was telling, showing the kind of person you are, giving insight to what was going on inside your head. After not getting your fill thanks to your little skirmish getting broken up far too soon, you came into the pay per view hungry for vengeance. It was personal. She was under your skin. You let jealousy consume you. You focused on the slights to the point they festered like an untreated wound, leeching out venom like pus through your veins, poisoning your thoughts and mind until all you wanted was to prove your point. To destroy Lien and in a sense, cut off the offending limb.
The one you had looked up to, had not lived up to your expectations.
Had not fallen in line to your desires.
Had not fit into the little box you wanted her to.
And I’ve already told you what I think about boxes, darling Chels. Some people were never meant to be contained, they will never fall onto the line you draw for them and follow it. You can hope, you can wish, you can dream... but if others don’t fit into the picture or fairytale you have inside your head... honey, that was all on you.
What the matches, and your little speech afterwards told me... was a few things. Things that will benefit me in the long run, because I learned about who you are. You have an amazing amount of patience, willing to bide your time to strike. A very thorough, calculating manner in which you approach things. And yet... through it all, a river of chaos that runs through you ready to make you throw caution to the wind to make the blood flow. It is quite fascinating... and I think that with you, I will need to stay on my toes in order to stay one step ahead.
I do relish a challenge.
But I hope you do as well.
Because I don’t plan on going down easy for you, matter of fact, I really don’t plan on losing this at all. You said you admire tenacity, I am pretty damn stubborn, or so I’m told. Methodically putting down an opponent? I can do that. You can count on it. So, bring whatever you want and throw it at me. I will take it all, and hand it back double. It’s almost too bad, in a way that this is just a standard match and not one where we can play with that little garnish you wear, I certainly wouldn’t shy away from such things... but for now, we will have to settle for what we can.
We are all inherently responsible for taking the reins of our own destinies... and I have both hands firm on mine.
I have worked too hard and for too long to allow someone like you, or anybody else to derail me, especially when I am just starting my climb. I can guarantee you that I have the heart and the fire within my soul to withstand anything you all throw at me, and then some. This is an inferno that cannot be banked. I made a promise to myself long ago that I would do this, and that I would never give up on myself. And I always keep my promises.”