Kimberly Williams Trios Cash-In RP Thread

[SnowQueenSCW]

OOC: Follows the PPV roleplays.

DISCLAIMER: The following is a work of fiction and not to be confused as complete or accurate representation of any beliefs, religions, etc. Please refer to research/articles by experts for that.

The Witches of Alden

”Fortune”

VanHohenheim’s House
Maplewood, New Jersey
March 20th, 2023
3:31pm

“How could you ask that of me?”

The question was one Selena had anticipated her mother asking the moment she had made the choice – or rather, when she had realized that she had no choice in the matter – to try and convince her mother in ‘reuniting’ (for lack of a better word) with the estranged Alden family.

“I don’t have a choice, mother.” Selena replied sharply, reaching up to pinch the bridge of her nose with her hand, trying to quell the headache that was threatening to overtake her focus. She had already been there an hour, arriving early in the afternoon by herself (Deanna had needed some time to think about things ‘SCW-wise’ after the bombshell that had been dropped on them) and choosing blunt honesty in her approach to her mother.

Clearly, that had not been the best choice as her mother had immediately resisted the whole argument, which had lead to a circular-argument, which they were now still remained in.

With a huff, Alejandra VanHohenheim continued her pacing around the room. She wore snug blue jeans and a sky-blue and white shirt which contrasted her dark skin but complimented the white of her hair (which still had mixes of black from a younger age). Compared to Selena, who had her hair in a tight updo and wore a black pantsuit with a silk-black shirt underneath, the mother to the Snow Queen looked far more casual than her daughter.

“I should have known it wouldn’t be so easy.” Alejandra angrily huffed under her breath. “Goddamn witches.”

“Okay!” Selena pressed, her hands clenching together. The past week or so, from meeting Raphael Alden, to his ultimatum which had ruined any hope of peace that she and the VanHohenheims could have, to the Retribution pay-per-view to the announcement of Breakdown that had, practically made the results of the pay-per-view utterly pointless, it all had put Selena more and more on edge! Perhaps that was why she snapped at her mother in that moment, like rubber-band pulled and pulled until it snaps. “I have heard that more times than I can count.” She stated coldly. “You said it back when we first met Sage and Caius, then Sage met Deanna at the market and told her the Aldens ARE witches. What the hell does that mean?” she asked. “Because I’ll be honest, mother, I’m finding it hard to believe and it sounds like utter nonsense to me!”

The older woman gave a sigh before disappearing into her room down the hall. Selena didn’t follow her -  she was certain her mother would return. A few seconds passed before the platinum-blonde, once more, heard the sound of footsteps returning and Alejandra was standing before her, holding out a small black box that held a large ring. Formed within the ring was the emblem of the Aldens – clearly something given to each member.

“I’ve seen that before.” Selena remarked, easily recognizing the family crest before pulling out the necklace she wore which held her own – the arctic blue dragon that ‘protected’ the snowflake. “I prefer my own.”

“You and me both.” Alejandra remarked, her dark eyes staring at the ring in obvious disdain. “I’ve wanted to throw this out for so many years, but…” her voice trailed off.

“It’s a part of you.” Selena finished, her voice not in question but absolute certainty. “Regardless of how they hurt you, they are still part of you.”

With a nod, Alejandra joined her sitting daughter on the large couch in front of the wide window, turning the box around to show her the ring and emblem more closely. “I guess the only way to start would be the beginning.” She sighed. “You’re aware that my family were of European descent, and that, like you, I’m a mixed-race child. Same with Sage and Caius.”

“Right.” Selena nodded. “Sorry, but I lost track of what percentage of what race I am. Really didn’t matter with the whole ‘coming out’ thing I was going through at the time.”

“Understandably.” Alejandra sadly smiled, not at her daughter, but at their situation. “Well, mixed-coupling, as it were, didn’t come acceptable until mid-1900s with the Aldens. Such were the times.”

“Yeah, especially in Europe.” Selena remarked.

“Didn’t stop my ancestors.” Alejandra remarked. “But, back then, the Aldens served in numerous small towns throughout various countries. We weren’t, well ‘famous’ or ‘infamous’, per say, just known in small areas.”

“As witches?” Selena asked, raising an eyebrow, to which her mother gave a nod. “I know this is stupid to ask, but… actual witches? Like pointy hats and broomsticks?”

“Don’t be silly, Selena.” Alejandra shook her head. “Would I be riding that beat-up clunker in the driveway if I could fly a broom? I’d at least have taken THAT skill with me when I ran away from him if I could.”

“I mean… I could always buy you a new car…” Selena shrugged. “You know I…” her voice faded out abruptly as her mother shot her a glance. “Right, sorry.”

The Snow Queen and her parents had had this conversation before. As proud as they were of their daughter, the Aldens did not want any financial assistance from Selena. Not a new house or car – even though Selena could afford to get them some of the best in the world without breaking much of a sweat – or repairs on the current house or anything. ‘We like surviving on our own efforts – just as you have.’ They had said. It was a pride thing, and Selena could not begrudge them it. Not when her pride was the backbone of her views of integrity within SCW – the desire to be proud of SCW and what it stood for, which was becoming harder and harder to do as the year went by…

Alejandra gazed at the ring-box in her hands again. “The Aldens were more, I guess you would call it ‘pagans’ or ‘organic-healers’ at the time? While the Christian foundation formed and took hold, the Aldens viewed more ‘earthly’ powers and abilities. Herbals and plants for remedies, gods more related to the moon and sky than to what Catholics referred to as ‘God’. They were quite respected before the notion of witchcraft took hold. Polytheism was far more understandable before Catholicism.”

“Sure.” Selena shrugged. “It was around long before, right? Romans and Greeks and all that?”
“Very good.” Alejandra nodded, causing Selena to shrug.

“Not really.” She sighed. “I barely graduated high-school. I got most of that stuff from just reading random things throughout the years.”

“You never went to post-secondary school?” Alejandra asked, earning a laugh from Selena.

“Where, Mom?” Selena asked. “Fairbanks? Anchorage? I was already promised to the Scythes, meant to be little more than a trophy wife and part of some bargain. Why the hell would they wait three or four years for me to get ‘educated’ when all they wanted was father’s gold?” she sighed. “Besides… I didn’t see the point after I lost Elsianna and Nome hated me.”

“Selena…” Alejandra sighed, seeing her daughter rescind a little into her memories.

It was true, and Selena knew it was her own fault as much as it was those that had used and despised her like Gavin Scythe, Anastasia, Talia, and the rest of the Scythe family. After losing her child and being abandoned by her then fiancée, Ryan Scythe – may the bastard continue to rot in jail… she thought bitterly – Selena had given up on any kind of worth in her life, becoming the recluse of Nome, The ‘Snow Queen’ as it were, drinking away her problems each night and digging for her father’s gold in her off-time between looking after her ‘Snow Child’ Elsianna and working at Liam’s Bar and Grill to continue to pay for what supplies she needed to stay alive. It was a mere existence, but she had given up wanting anything else, from a higher education to a better home, to love and acceptance – she had simply given up.

It had taken a long time for her to get out of that and attempt something, which had lead to SCW, but still, she still remembered those cold nights, buzzed from the alcohol, eventually waking up on the floor in the clothes she had worn the day previous, her hair matted and unkept somedays and her simply not caring.

Quietly, she ran her hands along her braid, feeling the freshly-shampooed locks swept up in the updo. “Sometimes, I wonder what I could have been if I had just tried.” She whispered. “If I had gone to post-secondary in Nome or Anchorage. I… I always wanted to do something with art or social services, and then when I had ‘recovered’ from my… my condition… I thought about helping people with that, but by then, SCW was there and I… I was happy. At least professionally. Personally, I was a mess, but that eventually worked out.”

“But you still wonder.” Alejandra observed, causing Selena to turn her head.

“Mom…” Selena turned her gaze to her mom. “You are so much smarter than me.”
“That’s not true.” Alejandra tried but the Snow Queen stopped her.

“You were interning to be a doctor, mom.” Selena stated. “Trust me, I’m not ashamed that my mother is smarter than me. But seeing you successful with that – it made me wonder what I was capable of besides throwing my body off a cage or taking a monitor to the head.”

“There’s always still time.” Alejandra tried. “You’re only 33.”
Selena slowly shook her head. “Thanks mother, but I rather focus on my children’s future rather than my own… and I love SCW too much to change now.”

Alejandra’s expression fell a little. “Clearly.” She remarked, her eyes finding her family’s ring once more. “If even Raphael can see it…”

The remark was a whisper, but Selena was close enough to hear it. She wanted to pursue it, to return to the matter at hand, but that desire was currently contending with her need to ‘know her enemy’, in this case, Raphael. Which meant she needed to know more about the Aldens.

“So…” she tried. “The Aldens were more like pagans than ‘witches’?”

Alejandra gave a nod. “That would be the closest approximation to it.”

“How did they handle the witch trials?” Selena asked, recalling one of Elsianna’s school-reports. “Something in Europe and America – I mean, Salem, obviously.”

Alejandra raised an eyebrow to her daughter, who merely shrugged. “Television and such. I hear things.”

“Well… I can’t speak about Salem, most of our ancestors stayed in Europe. But the Eichstatt, Wurzburg, Bamburg, and North Berwick, even Salzburg and Torsaker, you would probably find some relative of ours that had been executed there.”

“That’s…that’s horrible.” Selena remarked. “All of them?”

“Sweetheart.” Alejandra remarked simply, as if she was desensitized by the knowledge (given her years of knowing it). “We’re talking about the murder of over 40,000 people. Is it so hard to believe some of our family was mixed up with it?”

“So…what happened?” Selena asked.

“Well, most of them fled time and time again. Changed their last names, scattered across the lands. It wasn’t until the late 1800s that the families were brought back together and the family was re-established. Of course, that was my father’s grandfather.”

“So, what are they now? Do they still practice?”

“Some do, I think.” Alejandra shrugged. “Some stay very true to the lifestyle – but each charter and belief system is slightly different, far as I remember. Some live in the woods, others simply wear amulets and practice certain spells.”

“Spells?” Selena asked in disbelief. “I thought you said it wasn’t like that.”
“It’s not.” Alejandra sighed. “Hold on – I think I still have it.”

The older woman retreated back into the halls, but this time, she opened up a closet to reveal an old chest at the bottom of it. Pulling it out with a bit of grunt, Alejandra opened it, unaware that Selena had followed behind her this time. Before the Snow Queen’s eyes, she saw old patches of clothes, books, some jewelry, photobooks, some gems, colored-stones and pendants. She remained quiet as her mother pulled out a dark-red cover book, one that clearly showed its age, and a smooth, black stone. Carefully, Alejandra opened it before turning around, gasping as she realized Selena was standing right in front of her.

“Oh gods!” she remarked. “We need to put a bell on your or something.” She added, making her way back into the sitting room, her eyes back on the book as she carefully flipped through the pages. “No…No… no…” she read for a few more minutes. “Ah, here we go!” she turned the page over to Selena, showing the faded writing of pen, though it was still legible.

“Good luck spell.” Selena read. “Difficulty level: Easy. Requirements: wood or stone. Time: Waxing moon or Thursday- mother what is this?”

“It’s a spell.” Alejandra explained. “A very simple one but I use to use this one all the time when I was a kid – like Elsianna’s age.”

“You cast spells?” Selena raised an eyebrow. “Real spells?”
“Well… that’s a matter of perception and beliefs.” Alejandra shrugged. “Look I just want to show you what I meant, okay?” she sighed. “Cept I haven’t done this in years… Not sure if I can do it right…”

Moving into the kitchen, Alejandra placed the book on the table, keeping it on its page. “First, cleanse your aura and aura of your workspace… hold let me think…” she closed her eyes to give herself a few minutes, as if recalling a far-away memory before moving her hands in directions and shapes that Selena could not identify. She then clapped her hands loudly together before doing a similar set of gestures around herself and Selena before opening her eyes. “I think that worked.”

“What?” Selena asked. “You waved your arms and then looked like you were trying to swat a fly.”
“You know… for someone that talks A LOT about ‘believing’, you sure as are being mouthy.” Alejandra threw at the Snow Queen. “Do you want to know or not?”

“Fine.” Selena crossed her arms, leaning against one of the door ways as she watched her mother, who resumed reading from the small book.

“Now… we sand or wash the wood or stone.” Alejandra did as she read, washing and drying the black stone with a paper towel. “Then we take a marker, guess I’ll use a white one. And what did…” her voice trailed off as she leaned over to gaze at the book page, drawing something on the stone as she whispered. “Fehu, rune of good fortune. Support me in my endeavours and bring me luck and new beginnings.”

With the task finished, Alejandra turned to Selena, holding out the stone to put in Selena’s hand. “There.” She remarked. “Now you have a good luck charm.”

“A good luck charm?” Selena looked down at the stone in her hand, turning it over to see the white half-tree symbol (that’s what it looked like. Half a tree with branches but no leaves). “You did arts and crafts, mom. Amiliah did this in school a week or two ago. She drew a castle on a white stone.”

“You asked what spells were like and I told you.” Alejandra shrugged a bit aggressively.
“Yeah, but I was expecting ‘blood of chicken, eye of newt’ or something.” Selena answered back.

“Not my fault.” Alejandra answered simply.

“So if that’s all you guys did – arts and crafts – why do you hate the fact that they are witches?”

“I don’t hate that they’re witches due to their beliefs in spells, Selena.” Alejandra explained. “I hate that how they view themselves as such a ‘private club’.” She gave a sigh. “The Aldens used to be healers and servants of people. Now? They’re some kind of elitist cult. Like the family is sacred and nobody but family members may partake or whatever.”

“Like the Frostmeres.” Selena stated, immediately earning the stunned expression of her mother.

“I’m sorry.” She quickly spoke. “I didn’t mean it like that.” She tried. “I know how much being a Frost means to you.”
“It does.” Selena admitted. “But I’d be lying if I said the clan was not without its MAJOR flaws.”
“You haven’t…heard from them, have you?”

“Not since Brachiss and DeWinter died.” Selena admitted. “Which is fine with me. Far as I am concerned, the ‘Frost clan’ is just my immediate family. Me, Deanna, our children, you and dad – maybe even Peter if he ever returns.”

“Don’t hold your breath.” Alejandra shook her head. “Unless we’re offering money, he isn’t coming around.”
“His loss.” Selena stated, eyeing the stone in her hand. “So, where’s the ‘on-switch’ for this thing?”

“On switch?” Alejandra asked with an amused smile.
“Yeah, like to ‘activate’ the good luck or something.”

The inquiry caused a laugh to escape the older woman, who shook her head before reaching out to close Selena’s hand around the stone. “Just keep it on you – in your pocket or something – when you need it.”

Despite herself, the Snow Queen could help the mental image that came to her of keeping the stone in the pocket of her wrestling attire… if only to chuck it at Kimberly Williams the first chance she got! Now THAT would be good luck! she smiled without meaning to.  “So…” she gazed down at her hand. “This is what you guys did?”

“Well…” Alejandra sighed. “Some did more… some did worse… Least that’s what mother told me. I wasn’t allowed to read some of the higher-end spellbooks. They were ‘for adults’.”

“Great…” Selena sighed. “Nice to know if I don’t do this with you – they get put a hex on me or something.”
“Not going to begin to unpack that, Selena.” Alejandra sighed. “Gods, why are we even bringing this back into our family?”

“I believe I made it clear my lack of choice in the matter.” Selena remarked sharply. “Or did you miss the part where Raphael threatened to bid for SCW and, in not so many words, threatened to make my career a living hell?”

“I know!” sighed Alejandra, turning to march back into the family room. “But… did you ever think about what this could do? What this will invite?”

“No because I have no idea.” Selena stated honestly. “I sided with you because you clearly wanted nothing to do with them and, quite frankly, I didn’t want anymore of ‘family shit’ to deal with. But there’s nothing we can do, mother. They’ve got me. If Raphael is that desperate to get you to return for some kind of reunion, then what choice do we have? If I say no, he’ll just come up with another way. If I say no to that, he’ll find another way!”

“You don’t know that-“

“Do you have any FUCKING idea how much SCW is worth, mother?!” Selena spat. “I make millions a year and I can’t even come CLOSE to making a bid for it! We’re talking hundreds of millions of dollars, mom! Maybe more – maybe billions! And Raphael can make a bit on it! You don’t brag about that if you can’t back it up!” she shook her head sadly. “And a man with THAT kind of money – the kind that puts even my father’s goldmine to shame… then he won’t stop just because one plan doesn’t work.”

There was a moment of silence between the two, mother and daughter staring down each other. “Believe me.” Selena remarked. “I’ve thought about this for some time. Even if I pack up and leave SCW and go somewhere else, he’ll target that one next. He’ll just follow me to and fro until he has me where he wants me. And if that doesn’t work, he’ll find another way – a man with that kind of money? Malcolm Scythe’s only weaknesses was his limited resources and his ego. I don’t see any of that in Raphael… besides…” Selena eyed her mother. “I can’t bear the thought of leaving SCW in his hands. Not when he doesn’t give a damn about it beyond using it to get to us.”

Again, Alejandra remained silent for several minutes, choosing to cast her eyes out the window to her neighbourhood. “I could have gone my whole life without seeing them again.” She whispered. “Not seeing a single one of them ever again.” There was a slight growl in her voice before turning her head towards Selena. “You’re certain he gave his word to back off afterwards?”

“Yes.” Selena sighed. “We just give him an afternoon…” pulling out her phone, she checked over the message Caius had sent her a few days ago. “Here.” She showed the message to her mother, outlining the details Raphael had insisted.

Giving a quick scan, Alejandra scoffed at it. “Of course, he’d pick a place like that. Showcase his cash and inflate his ego.”

“I’ll be with you.” Selena insisted. “And…I’ll make sure nothing happens.”

Again, Alejandra scoffed. “You plan on packing a gun or something?” she turned and her expression morphed to shock as Selena’s serious expression didn’t. “Selena!”

“I am not walking into a hornet’s nest without a way out, mother. Father taught me that.” She replied coldly. “I may have no choice in going through with this but I get to decide HOW I go through with this.”

Reaching out, the Snow Queen took her mother’s hand in hers. “And I choose the way that keeps us safe and get you and I out of there for good. Understand?”

Despite herself, Alejandra gave a shaky sigh. “And SCW means that much to you? To go through with this?”

Despite her previous logic, Selena didn’t repeat it. Instead, she merely gave a nod of her head. In truth, even if leaving SCW DID remove Raphael’s power, she still couldn’t do it. She couldn’t imagine her life without SCW. It had been SCW that had given her the life she had, allowed her to meet her wife, have two more children, a ‘forever home’, reunite with her parents, and gods knew what else.

“What’s one more scar?” she answered. “I’ve got too many to count.” She added, her mind mentally recalling the scars on her back, the injuries to her knee, ribs and foot – everything where one of them could have ended a career – she had taken each bullet for SCW without flinching. Xander, Giovanni, Vixen, Regan, Infamous, Wonderland, Coalition, Blood Grove/New Eden, the list was a good mile long. And like her past and her ‘lack of education’, Selena was as responsible for her scars and pains as those that had dealt to her. She had chosen to take those bullets, those pains because she loved SCW and wanted to protect it – to make sure it was all it could be in case some other lost little girl found her way there, needing help and a new life…

“Fine.” Sighed Alejandra. “I’ll go.” She surrendered.

“Thank you.” Selena sighed. “I’ll be there to protect you every step of the way.”

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep, dear.” Alejandra smiled. “You don’t know the Aldens like I do.”

“Maybe not.” Selena smiled with a tilt of her head. “But they don’t know Selena Frost like I do…”
_______________________________________________________________

The Royal Letter

The camera opens to reveal the interior of what looks to be a trophy room, the faintest sound of rainfall can be heard outside, along with the occasional clasp of thunder. Along the walls of the room hang many colorful championship belts and framed pictures, many SCW-related while some are not, belonging to such groups as IWC and the World Series of Wrestling. Larger trophies, such as The Best of the Best Tournament and Shot of Adrenaline Tournament sit on the floor near the titles, no less prestigious in their display. Slowly, as the camera rotates throughout the room, it settles on a flatscreen television hanging on the wall, the device playing a replay of SCW’s Retribution pay-per-view, specifically the tag-team title match between Light in the Darkness and The House of Frost. The volume is turned on, allowing the audience to hear the stadium crowd that night!

THIS IS AWESOME! THIS IS AWESOME! it is beyond clear as various clips of the match are played, the voice of Adam Sharper emerging from the highlight reel.

What a match! Two amazing teams, hugely gifted, but tonight, the champions retain!... They said they were going to focus on the in-ring and two of the finest teams in SCW today just put on a classic all to become World Tag Team Champions!

The footage slows on the image of Selena and Deanna Frost holding up the World tag-team titles with help from the Light in the Darkness before the camera backs up a little, revealing the woman in the trophy room, watching the footage as she sits in an armchair. She wears a black-dress and her hair is up in tight updo. One leg is crossed over the other as she continues to observe the footage of the pay-per-view, watching it change as she speaks.

A night where four women defined what integrity and tag-team wrestling should be about -what SCW should be about… the image changes to Bree Lancaster pinning The One and Aisling to retain her Adrenaline championship! A night where one champion displayed dominance in defiantly pinning two superstars at once, leaving no doubt over her place among the best of SCW.

The footage shifts to show Bree, Datura, and Chase Owens that night. Contenders were crowned. Lastly, the footage shows Owen Cruze, hurt but standing proud with the world championship. And a man found it in himself to find retribution against a liar and bastard of a man.

Despite herself, there is a momentary look of pride in the Snow Queen’s eyes, seeing such a five-star pay-per-view play out as it did weeks before.

Such passion, respect, love of the sport and for what’s right – for the integrity of SCW, people giving everything they have for the opportunity of a championship, a contendership, or simply to prove themselves or do the right thing in this federation… her voice trails off as she slowly turns in her seat to face the camera in front of her.

And in the end… it all meant absolutely nothing.

With a snap of her fingers, the television suddenly turns off, the screen growing dark and the footage of Retribution – the epitome of integrity that SCW could be – is snuffed out in a second, leaving only Selena, who’s expression has grown colder.

How fucking dare you. her voice holds a hint of a growl to it. How FUCKING dare you!

Her voice rings within the small room as more thunder is heard from outside the room/house.

Kimberly, the Board of Directors – even O. D. himself! How can all of you do this! How dare you disrespect all of that, Kimberly, how dare you, Board members, allow it, and how dare you, O. D., finalize it!

Yes, I am talking about the news that not only stole the attention of Retribution from its competitors, but essentially made EVERYTHING so many of us were fighting for moot and irrelevant! The cash-in of Kimberly’s trios contract to create a match that is to be the length of an entire show! With every title on the line!

She takes a deep breath through her nose, exhaling slowly as she tries to maintain some degree of control. And no, I could care less that every title is on the line, including the tag-team championship. Hell, for all of her talk of ‘originality’, when it comes down to it, this is nothing more than a bloated, overembellished version of Jake Starr’s cash-in years ago, when he ran the elimination chamber with every title on the line! If THAT was all that had been asked, that the House of Frost defend their tag-titles in a match where the winner would walk away the tag-champions, I’d happily accept that, as I know Deanna would. We’d be there to happily prove our place at the top of the tag-team division and as one of the best tag-teams in the world today!

But that’s not what this match is, is it, Kimberly? Directors? O.?! Oh no! Because the winner of the match doesn’t walk away with the tag-team titles… the fourth and fifth placed people will!

Her pale jaw clenches, the muscles working under the tension of the Snow Queen, her next series of words almost spoken through clenched teeth.

That’s right, True Believers. Where the winner of this ‘score-keeping’ match will, rightfully, become the SCW World champion, every other title will be decided by who comes in second all the way down to last place. For a moment, Selena’s eyes flutter over to the titles hanging on the wall – the World title, the United States title, the Tag-team titles, the Adrenaline title, and the Television title.

Which means… her sapphire eyes flitter back over to the turned-off screen, as if she can still see the highlights of her war with Light in the Darkness with her wife, Deanna, and the many other moments of Retribution that, could have, made her so proud to be part of SCW.

Everything Luz, Amelia, Deanna and I fought for…
Everything we put out bodies through to give an incredible match…
The pain we endured for what we believed in, just like Bree did, and Datura did, and Owen did, and Chance did…

And all along… we were fighting for fucking consolation prizes…

A moment of silence passes as Selena’s last words hang in the air until, suddenly, the platinum-blonde pushes herself out of her chair, even tipping it over in the process, causing it to fall on the floor. The camera follows her as she paces around the room, surrounded by the accolades/accomplishments she had received in her near-decade in SCW and elsewhere.

Is that what you’re trying to tell the world, directors? O.?! That your WORLD tag-team championship isn’t even worth a silver or a bronze medal? That it’s a swell consolation prize to a fourth or fifth place person under most of the singles titles? Is THAT what Light in the Darkness faced their demons and came back for? Is that what White Knight and Valeria risked their careers and their lives for at the End of the Year?! For a damn participation prize or the opportunity of a lifetime?! Is that what Bree Lancaster and Datura dream of? A door-prize? Is that what Deanna and I worked like hell to get our hands on? The near bottom of championship-level? Is that what ‘world tag-team titles’ mean to all of you?!

Is that what the Adrenaline title means?
What the United States title means? Booby prizes?!

AHHHHH!

A scream escapes Selena as she turns around, her hands fisting into her hair. The turn is enough for the audience to see the bare back that the dress exposes of the Snow Queen, and the web of scars that line her skin. She turns back to the camera, sapphire eyes almost pleading.

How could you allow this, O.? How could you so blatantly disrespect the other championships like that?! Where we have to – literally! – lose in order to win or retain?! How is THAT integrity?! How is that proving that we are ‘the best’ of those divisions?! How is that… How is that Supreme Championship Wrestling?! How is that… How is that…

Despite herself, unshed tears can be seen forming in Selena’s eyes, which she angrily swipes at with the back of her hand as she turns away.

After… she sniffles a little. After everything so many of us gave for those titles. My wife… my sister for her ‘Rise to Greatness moment’… Matches of the year for titles like the United States title. Whole tournaments to determine the Adrenaline Champion – SOA, anyone? Titles that people like Glory hunger for in their quest for the status of ‘Supreme Champion’… and you do this?

You tell us that they aren’t worth more than ‘prizes for the losers’? Worth less than the leather and metal that comprise them. How, O.… How can you…

Slowly, her voice trailing off, Selena manages to find her way back into her chair, leaning forward and onto her knees.

And for what? What is all of this for? So Kimberly Williams can be Underground champion again?! Lifting her head up, Selena’s sapphire eyes darken as she stares into the camera.

You brat. she growls. You damn coward! I knew your words of ‘taking the division seriously’ were utter crap the minute I heard them! I knew that you were just the same coward that threatened to bail on Double Jeopardy and then bailed on a tag-match with The House of Frost shortly thereafter. Because if you really gave a damn, it be you in there with all of us. It be you fighting for those 2-3 hours…

But no, you can win by getting one fall and then high-tailing it out of the arena. Rules put in place for you alone that make it nigh-impossible for you to leave without the Underground title, certainly impossible for the RIGHTFUL champion Owen Cruze to remain the champion if he wishes to keep the World title…

You drag the title you claim to ‘care about’ through the damn mud just so you can have it. Simply because you weren’t good enough to keep it. Sapphire eyes narrow. And the ironic thing of it all? Even as low as you’ve brought it, Kimberly, the Underground title will STILL be too good for you! Because what you have done is not chaos. It’s cowardice! It’s disrespect! It’s you NOT taking what those titles mean seriously! What people like ME and Light in the Darkness and Deanna and so many others gave up and risked just to get a chance at those titles – the tournaments we won, the injuries we endured, the careers we risked… and careers some of us lost…

Her voice trails off for a moment, eyes casting another glance towards the championships on the wall.

People have RISKED their lives for these titles! She gestures to her collection. People have busted their ass week in and week out just for a chance to EARN titles like these. I spent FOUR YEARS trying to bring myself to a level so that I could compete for the SCW World title! I spent months and months training with my wife to get us to a level where we could beat the, supposedly, unbeatable Farmstead Friends and EVERY tag-team that came our way!

But you? You want to take a shortcut. You want to steal back a title, then run out like a cowardly, little bitch! And you whine on Twitter with your gifs and emojis, ‘I’m not coming! I’m not showing up! I’m not going to wrestle unless they give me what I want! I want! I want! I want!” I want you to shut the hell up! Selena’s voice echoes in the room, louder than the thunder.

You know why no one respects you, Kimberly? Why no one thinks you’re anything more than a bratty, little cretin that’s maybe good for a comedy sketch on Breakdown? It’s because while the rest of us are working each day to be better, you’re looking for handouts, for shortcuts, for ways to screw over as many people as you can because, deep down, you’re not good enough to truly beat people like me. Like Deanna. Like Light in the Darkness. Like Owen Cruze, right? You had your chance to do it and you failed!

You try to be relevant and you fail!
You try and be chaotic and you fail!
You even bring your mother back to change things up… and you FAIL!

She slowly breathes. And maybe you steal the title this Breakdown, Kimberly, but you’ll ultimately fail again. You’ll ultimately be beaten by someone that doesn’t see a seventh-place prize. Someone that holds value for that title, which you clearly don’t.

Selena seems to think about it for a second. Or any of you for that matter, Board of Directors. O. D.. You clearly don’t hold any value for your titles or your superstars beyond what’s been made apparent. Because if you can willingly demand your performers to wrestle for 2-3 hours for wooden spoons and chump status… if you can willingly say that the WORLD tag-team titles are the fourth and fifth most important titles in SCW today. If you can willingly show that every title other than the world title is simply consolation prizes, O. D.…

Then maybe I was wrong… Maybe a new owner of SCW wouldn’t be such a bad thing.

She pushes herself to her feet, standing in front of the camera.

Because I didn’t endure falling off a scaffold for a second-place award. I didn’t win tournaments for door-prizes. I didn’t survive roofed-cages for ‘charity awards’. I didn’t suffer concussions, buckled ribs, my wife didn’t suffer a broken arm, and I didn’t risk my hair for fucking ‘participation prizes’! And if you believe that Deanna and I ever would allow what we have done, what we and so many others have worked for to be treated as such? For our legacy to be so tarnished because you’re making it impossible for the House of Frost to retain without ‘losing’?

She looks away again, once more the anger spiking at the impossibility of ‘retaining’ without ‘losing’ in this upcoming match – a contradiction to everything the Snow Queen believes in.

You want to force my hand, Kimberly? Board of Directors? O.?

A pale hand launches out to grab the camera, taking it up to allow the Snow Queen to glare into the lens.

Consider it forced! Because this is NOT integrity! This is NOT SCW! This is NOT what I believe in!! This is… This is…

With an angry yell, the camera is hurled into the wall where the sound of it crashing is hurt. The image is distorted and cracked as it falls to the ground, revealing the door as Selena Frost marches out of it, pulling her hair free to allow it to fall into the iconic braid behind her before slamming the door behind her as the shot then slowly goes to black.