Post by AngelicaVaughn on Jan 13, 2018 20:11:52 GMT -5
Cinci HitGirls Stadium
Undisclosed date
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The camera is focused on Angelica Vaughn, in full football gear except for the helmet. She’s twenty-something yards away, standing on the field of the Cinci HitGirls. A couple of pigskins are lined up, held by holder kicking tees, about 45 yards removed from the goal line. The camera inches closer.
Angelica remains focused on the ball. Her hair is waving to the right, clearly indicating where the wind is coming from. She will need to take it into account.
Angie backtracks: two steps backwards and two to the right, setting herself up for a left-footed kick. She runs up and nails the ball with full force at the appropriate angle, her long leg sending the ball towards the posts like a bullet from a gun. She holds her hand above her eyes, blocking the sunrays that blind her vision to track the ball’s movement. As it travels through the uprights, she smiles and nods, balling her right hand into a fist.
Angelica: And THAT is how you kick a field goal! Go HitGirls!
As her focus breaks, she suddenly notices the approaching camera crew who have filmed her. She looks surprised, but not too much. It’s apparent they had agreed to meet here during her kicking practice.
Angelica: Oooh, you guys are here already!
She checks her wrist, only to notice that she’s not wearing a watch and then shrugs.
Angelica: Doesn’t matter! I was just about done anyway. I asked you guys to come here, because as you all know, I have a very important match coming up. One of massive consequence. At least, for me. Not so much for my next opponent it seems.
Angie snaps her fingers, and then points in the air.
Angelica: Oh! Did you bring that thing I asked for?
Someone from the camera crew hands Angelica a sheet of paper. She nods, mouths a ‘thank you’, and folds it up before tucking it away in her padded gamepants.
Angelica: Yes, Gabby Camacho. That’s who I’m talking about. Obvs! See, I was really looking forward to this match. When the L.A.W. card appeared I was genuinely distraught. ‘Gabby Camacho’, the Gabster, Queen of the Ring and the one and only LAW Champion! Sounds intimidating, right!? But after I got all worked up and flew my skinny little butt all the way to Lacklanland to get some help with promo-ing, I found out something… What the heck was I thinking?
Yeah, you heard me. I was so intimidated, so taken aback by the prospect of having to face the top erm… I’m gonna say bitch, but solely because ti’s the female equivalent of a dog, and it’s kind of an expression… in the company, that I enlisted the help of one of the world’s greatest trash talkers, simply because I didn’t think I’d stand a chance. Because, you being LAW Champion, you MUST be an exceptionally skilled person on the microphone. You can have the masses eating out of your hand, you can move the crowd like nobody else can and you can sell out an arena with a single tweet!
And then, what do you do, Gabby?? You… blog…? to me?
Angelica raises one of her eyebrows, utterly unimpressed.
Angelica: I mean, here I am. I am a rookie, not nearly as experienced, but I am carrying the LAW banner across continents and companies. I am representing the pink and purple everywhere I go, be it on social media, in interviews, on talk shows, at press conferences and fan meets. And you… blog… at me? Is that really your way of hyping up our match? Is that really your way of expressing your intensity, your desire, your absolute will to win? Because all it is saying to me, is ‘I am Gabby, and I’m too lazy to put in an actual effort’. I wonder why, Gabby? Is it because you think I’ll be easy pickings? Is it because you think that you can coast off your status and ‘everything will be all right’? That won’t fly here. All you did, was prove to me that you are not a person to be feared. You’re not someone I should hold in high regard. You’re certainly not someone that I should roll over for, and you’re most definitely not the woman I thought you were. A ‘blog’… Give me a break, yeah?
The fans, they deserve better. They deserve the hype, they deserve the adrenaline coursing through their veins as they step through those arena doors, they deserve the heart palpitations as soon as the bell rings and our clash begins. But do you honestly think, that in the history of this sport, a fan has gone: “Oh My Gosh, I am so excited for this match after reading that one blog!!”?
The answer is no, Gabby. I know that, because I was on the other side of those barricades less than a year ago. Blogs didn’t make me fall in love with wrestling. Blogs didn’t make me want to jump over the rail and slide underneath those ring ropes myself. Blogs didn’t make me want to spend what little pocket money I have to go watch larger-than-life figures put their bodies on the line.
Angelica shakes her head.
Angelica: Dedication. Heart. Courage. Those were the things that always stood out, the things that these prime athletes embodied like no other. They didn’t blog their way to the top. Maybe you did. But guess what? It’s not going to keep you there. And your downfall will come a heck of a lot sooner than you think, beginning with me, at LAW 75! Because this rookie is going to take down the champion. Just imagine what kind of ‘butterfly effect’ that’ll have, huh?
Angelica smiles and reaches for the piece of paper she’d been handed earlier. She unfolds it and flattens it with the back of her hand before looking at the camera again.
Angelica: ‘Butterfly effect’ is of course something you mentioned in that little, erm… ‘riveting’… blog of yours. Since I doubt many people actually read it, I thought I’d help you out and respond to some of the things you said in there.
Angelica holds up her hand, almost apologetically.
Angelica: Now, I know what some of you must be thinking. ‘Really, Angelica? All that talk about Gabby’s blog being inane and you’re gonna scrape the bottom of the barrel yourself by doing a reactionary promo’? You would, of course, have a point, but the thing is that there are so many silly things in there, or just plain untruths, that I can’t forego to at least react to them, lest they be seen as facts! So here we go…
The leggy blonde kicker skims over the piece of paper, which as it turns out is a printed-out version of Gabby’s blog.
Angelica: I will say THIS, Gabby: lovely colors you picked! They do say Orange is the New Black, which I’ve heard is an excellent Netflix series about prison lesbians. I’ve never watched it, though. Anyhoooo….
Angie looks at the paper, and traces it with her finger from the top, moving downwards and speaking in a hushed voice.
Angelica: First, let’s just… skip over this part… which is all just boring stuff about Amy Jo Smyth anyway…. that has zero, zilch, nada to do with our actual match… this stuff about the champion’s challenge too, I mean you lost, get over it… ah! Here we go.
The junior CoolKid clears her throat and straightens her back, resuming things with a normal voice.
Angelica: First of all, Gabby, you mentioned this butterfly effect thingy, starting off with how Sam Tolson vs. the World would never have happened had I not refused the Chaos title match because I wanted to pursue tag team gold with one of my closest friends instead. It’s true, she did take that very personally and to this day is still milking that little fact to her heart’s content. But I think you severely underestimate Sam Tolson’s need for attention. Sam Tolson vs. the World would have happened either way, since she is a woman slipping from relevancy, whose only fanbase consists of a gang of drooling perverts every Tuesday and Friday. There is simply nothing else that is appealing about her, and people are starting to see through that, so they drop their support and focus on the people who actually do something other than make idle threats and repeat the same thing over and over and over again. Sam can’t stomach that. Of course she can’t. And since she lost her title here, she has been slipping down the ladder ever since, leading to her childish temper tantrums. So I had nothing to do with that. It’s merely the personality of a vain, self-centered woman unable to face facts that her time is coming to an end. Here’s my advice to you, Gabby: when the same thing happens to you, don’t be like Sam. Go out with a touch of class, style and grace. Let people remember you for who you were, not the shell of a former champion. I don’t particularly dislike you, Gabby, believe it or not. I wouldn’t want that to happen to you.
Angelica takes another look at the paper, before her eyes shoot upward again.
Angelica: After that, you make an outlandish claim that Sarah ONLY got injured BECAUSE of Sam’s outbursts? I mean, what? Have you… actually followed the incident? Do you actually know what happened? Or were you too busy going to parties where you don’t know anyone? Sarah got abducted and drugged by a psychopath. I mean, Sam is a psychopath but he had nothing to do with this whole ordeal. So this is all just rather silly…
Angelica raises the piece of paper, before hiding it behind her back with her arm.
Angelica: And then… You claim that the only reason Team Kickass broke up is because of Sarah’s accident? They had like one match together at LAW! And Kenzi not having a single’s title if they hadn’t broken up is even more nonsensical, since they never actively pursued tag team gold. Besides, Gabby, I’ll have you know that Kenzi Grey is a phenomenal talent who can do anything she sets her mind to! There’s a reason she’s the Champion of Champions. You could learn a thing or two from her.
A gust of wind interrupts Angelica, her hair flowing freely. Luckily, her shoulder pads give her plenty of warmth, even in the cold Cinci air.
Angelica: But what might probably be the biggest load of drivel is how you question my ability to wrestle you one on one because I have only been teaming with Ash recently. Gabby, I have wrestled in single’s matches all over the world. Mexico, Japan, the UK, France, Germany, the Caribbean,.. I even fought on a deserted peninsula! Don’t think that because my focus has been on tag teaming at LAW, that it is the only thing I’m capable of doing. So you may claim that LAW is ‘your ring’, but the people know better. Your delusion won’t save you. And while you have kindly instructed me to keep my words polite, right AFTER you insulted my closest friends, I feel inclined to tell you that I will not hesitate to kick your head off.
The tall, lanky blonde folds the piece of paper up and puts it away in her pants.
Angelica: So you see. Not only is your method of communication outdated, boring and utterly redundant, you can’t even get your facts straight! I am REALLY trying to be as nice as I can here, I really am trying to be the bigger person here. I always try to treat people with the respect they deserve. I guess that’s a feeling you and I share. But when you put together such a half-assed effort to throw shade at me and my friends, you’re making it really hard for me to do so, Gabby. So prepare for what’s coming. Prepare to feel the bite of my kick. Sarah told me recently that if I’m nervous around someone, I should pretend like I’m going to wrestle them. But when I’m nervous about wrestling someone, you know what I do?
Angelica turns around, runs up and kicks one of the remaining balls from the tees. It travels all across the field, sailing through the upright with the greatest of ease. She turns back to the camera with an intensity rarely seen in the strapping five foot tenner, who is usually so gentle and fun-loving.
Angelica: I pretend they’re a football! And your porky face will make it pretty easy to think of it as a pigskin. The #Vaughnemous kick will end you, Gabby. I won’t be your fodder. I won’t be your stepping stone to relevancy or validation. I’m not in this match to make the champ look good or to make the crowd believe you have what it takes to truly carry this company. You’re not getting a free ride to legendary status off of my back! So make sure your head is screwed on tight, or it’s gonna fly all the way up into the cheap seats. Angie… out!
The camera fades to black.
fancygfxtransition------------fancygfxtransition
Edith Seybold's office
Two Days Later
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Two Days Later
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Angelica: It wasn’t too mean, was it?
Those were Angelica’s first words as the tape ended. She was sitting in the office of her agent Edith Seybold. The older woman looked at her with a twinkle in her eyes.
Edith: Not at all, Angelica. And you really need to stop worrying about those things. The fans like you, there’s no reason to think they’ll drop you for speaking the truth about a champion who can’t get her facts straight.
Angelica breathed a sigh of relief as she slid a bit deeper into the comfy chair. The big wall-mounted TV was still producing some static, until Edith grabbed the remote and turned it off. She turned back to her client.
Edith: Talking to Sarah seems to have worked a bit. You weren’t afraid to go hard, which is exactly what you needed to do. How is Miss Lacklan doing?
Angelica: Grey-Lacklan, to be precise! And she’s doing better. She can wiggle her toes now! She’s keeping her spirits up and staying strong. But I expected nothing less!
Edith: Good. You keep that relationship strong and secure, you hear me?
Angelica nodded and then wondered if she should ask Edith what had been on her mind. She eventually decided she should. If she couldn’t trust her agent, who could she trust, after all? She was the one who made sure she got so many high-profile matches all across the globe. Gabby Camacho may not think being a worldwide superstar was an accomplishment, but opinions on that were divided. Gabby didn’t think so, but every other person in the world did. The sane ones, at least.
Angelica sighed and asked the question.
Angelica: Something weird happened while I was at Sar’s place, Edith. Have you ever heard of Sebastian Hargrave?
Edith put down her pen on the desk and frowned. She lowered her rectangle glasses and looked over them at her client.
Edith: Hargrave? The name rings a bell. His son was involved in Sarah’s accident. Well, he was basically the culprit. Why do you ask, Angelica?
Angelica: He approached me before I met up with Sarah. He asked me all sorts of questions.
Edith: What kind?
Angelica: About my parents, mainly. I wonder if they knew each other, once upon a time. Do you think that’s possible? It’s kinda been bugging me.
The experienced agent leaned back in her chair. She pushed her glasses back up her nose and picked up her pen, scribbling a note on a nearby notepad.
Edith: I don’t want you bugged. You have a huge match against Gabby coming up, among many many others. I need you focused and committed and ready. I’ll look into it, see what I can dig up. I can call in a few favors.
Angelica: Thank you, that would be a real comfort.
Edith: But I meant what I said, Angelica. Stay focused on this match. I cannot overstate its importance. If you beat Gabby, I’ll have enough leverage to make some serious demands. You beating the LAW Champion one on one would make your in-company stock skyrocket. And it’s exactly the kind of thing I need to get you more high profile matches and title shots. So be ready and don’t let this distract you!
The Vaughnemous One stood up from her seat and nodded.
Angelica: Don’t worry, I won’t. I prepared well for Gabby and she’s not going to catch me off guard. I know she’ll be tough to beat… despite her not being very smart… but I know I can beat her and I’ll be ready to rock her world! She still thinks I’ll be a walkover, but nothing could be farther from the truth. I hope she likes arena lights, because she’s gonna be staring up at them for a while.
Her agent smiled and nodded. She stood up as well and extended her hand, which Angelica shook.
Edith: Glad to hear it. Get it done, Angelica. You do your job and I’ll do mine. That way, we both get what we want.
And as Angelica left the building, she felt reinvigorated. She was going to beat the LAW Champion AND her worries would be put to bed. Things were looking up, and she was gonna kick the first show of the new year off with a bang!