Taking Hold of the Flame 2025

[Digitox]

Posting this RP for both matches

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1al0A...sp=sharing

[SnowQueenSCW]

OOC: CD occurs as dated. Promo takes place night of Taking Hold of the Flame

Villain of the Year

”Up in Smoke…”

She was floating through smoke and ashes. It all seemed to whip by and around her, so similar to the frozen winds of Nome where she had been from – winds of cold and heartlessness that she had known for so many years of her life. How could she ever forget them, even within the temperate nature of New York City weather?

You could take the girl out of Nome, but you can’t take the Nome out of the girl…

Was she falling? Or had she finally been able to fly like she had thought about so many times in her Eyrie Tower, looking down upon that very same New York weather and traffic far below? No, flying was not this. Flying was freedom. This was loss. This was lack of control. This was powerlessness.

And as she fell into the mountain of ash and soot, the very charcoals bending and reforming under the impact of her crash landing, she certainly did not feel free from where she lay amongst the ashes. The sky itself was not the dark black or blue that she knew so well from her lonely tower, but a crimson red that contained an equally bloody moon as its central ‘jewel’. She could hear nothing but the remnants of burning fire, the faint sound of crackling and snapping as things continued to be burned away.

She didn’t move from her place amongst the piles of ash and soot, nor did she turn away from the crimson moon and sky above her. She knew what lay around her.

The burnt remains of her glorious plan.

She hadn’t won the royale… she hadn’t regained the world championship. Her year long plan had failed, fallen apart, and history had repeated itself. Like nearly every other year for the past decade, the royale had not gone to the one that deserved it most – not to the one that was the most dominant or most successful, no but to… to…

She couldn’t remember the winner’s name as she lay there but it didn’t matter. It hadn’t been her. And with that loss came the end of everything she had worked for for so many months, nearly years. That thread, her shot, once pulled out had begun the unravelling, slowly undoing every step, every action, every thought and design she had done for herself – for her family – for SCW.

It was why she didn’t lift her head to look around. She already knew what was around her, as if she could see it from a bird’s perspective. She knew the charred remains of the SCW logo lay sunken into the ashen-ground just a few feet from where she lay. She knew the building that large logo stood on was still standing, but now more of a burnt skeleton of what it once was. Did that mean she was in Toronto, the headquarters of SCW? No… it didn’t… and she wasn’t. This wasn’t Toronto or New York or New Orleans or Nome…

This was… she knew… this was a graveyard. A cemetery. A tomb for everything she was responsible for destroying. For burning down to the ground. It was only now that the place had finally been able to add its maker to its ‘collection of corpses’.

Slowly, in resignation, she let herself sit up, able to see the desolate desert of black before her. She noticed the burnt posters scattering around the ground, some more destroyed than others. She noticed the remains of wrestling rings and banners and merchandise – things no longer holding any worth in the world, not even in remembrance.

Who would care to remember? Who would care to honor the dead? Had anyone honored her while she was around? While she was alive? It was a sad truth and one she had to move past as she continued to let her gaze roam. She knew what she would find before her eyes did. It was a ‘graveyard’ for a reason.

The scorched corpses lay all around her, very few recognizable due to the effectiveness of the fire. Still, there were some traces of identity in each she saw. Some still wore patches of their familiar clothes. Leather jackets, masks, bling and shirts. She let her eyes linger on each one.

Poor Polly. Poor Luz. Poor Amelia. There were countless others but seeing those three hurt the most. She had only wanted to help them. To push them to the level she knew they could reach which was super stardom – all of them, regardless of the highs and lows were capable of it! But what had that lead to? More destruction as her plan caught them up in its web, until, once it burned, all that were wrapped inside it were affected.

Further beyond the site of her career and work-friends to as close as right behind her, she could saw that of her family. Her friends like Jean and Zelda, Asmodeus and Stallis, the Grays… and her own family…

Nothing had been safe from the fire’s wrath. Once she had lost control of it, it had rampaged on, not taking failure as an option. It had waited patiently for Selena to fulfill her plan – her destiny to make things right far beyond the scope of the immediate – but now that she had failed? It would not be denied…

She could see it now, the fires in the distance, sensing there was new fuel to burn. New flesh to cook. And over the hills, she could see the flames descending down… towards her.

She did not move as they drew closer. Where would she go? Would she run away like Xander and Hudson did when they failed? Would she ‘give up’ like Asher and Giovanni did so many times? Would she pretend it wasn’t there like Syren and James Evans, trying to enforce her own ‘reality’ as if it could be made so with mere thought and no true action?

No… this was always the end. This was always going to be the finish one way or another. And she would face it. Face all the pain, all the destruction now turned on her.

If nothing else… she could at least still have her integrity… until the fires even burned that away.

Frost “Forever Home”
Manhattan, New York
May 28th, 2025
3:09pm

Selena’s eyes flew open in the dark, her mouth trying to make a sound but no breath came to her to provide it. That which was above her was no longer blood red, but a shadowy white amidst the dimly lit room – the ceiling of the bedroom.

Again, she tried to breathe, to get her lungs to cooperate with her, but she could only manage a slight inhale and exhale. Why couldn’t she breathe properly? Her mind raced frantically, the panic rising in her chest like a weight. The blankets on top of her, covering her bare skin, felt like they were made of lead! The room felt smaller – too small – as her brain rallied to piece together anything other than mentally screaming ‘It’s over! I’ve lost!’ over and over again.

“Con…” she rasped in a whisper, desperately trying to speak the words. “Conceal…” it was barely a breeze of sound. “Don’t feel…” Little more than a hiss of sound and it only made breathing difficult, so much so that she could barely register the movement beside her.

Immediately, her eyes jerked to the right, the most visible thing she could see was the mass of red hair lying beside her. The kind of red hair she would recognize anywhere. That was all it took for the ‘World-Ruler’ to see the events of last night – of a few hours ago – race before her eyes as if she was watching a movie.

The heat.
The rush.
Clothes torn off.
Moans filling the room.

Even as she slammed her eyes shut against the onslaught of mental imagery, they would not stop. They would not simply go away. They kept playing in her mind. What she did – what she allowed herself to do and feel. Just so Deanna wouldn’t so the words that would shatter her.

She had acted desperately – so desperately – in that moment, standing outside of the house with her ex-wife, begging her to let her go. Let her leave but Deanna wouldn’t. She kept wanting to say something – say those words – because of what had happened with their daughter. Deanna, ever the brave fighter, had wanted to tackle the elephant in the room that Selena had tried to tiptoe past for weeks! To pretend it wasn’t there like a damn coward.

And in the moment of panic, she had given in! She knew she wasn’t just ‘imagining’ what had happened. She wasn’t just ‘dreaming’ again like that nightmare. All of her senses remembered.

She could still remember the smell of her.
The feel of her on top of her.
The feel of her skin on hers.
The taste of her lips.

Selena felt the hot tears sting her eyes, closing them hard enough to push them out and down her cheeks, as she continually to be mentally assaulted by these thoughts. She had slept with Deanna! She had had sex with her ex-wife! She had given in in an act of unforgivable desperation, and now…

Now…

She wheezed, trying desperately to keep breathing, even if it was just little huffs and puffs. What would happen when Deanna woke up? What would she do? What would she think? How much more would she hate her? The anxiety of such a future spiked and she felt more of her breath fail her, the feeling of loss and vulnerability – the feeling of powerlessness – triggering something deep and rooted within her. But the thoughts were wild and in firm control of her…

Why had she given in?! Why had she done THIS?! Everything had been perfect! She was untouchable! Even her harshest critics had her pegged as the favorite to win the royale. She had defeated practically everyone set to compete within the royale this year AND she was in the fortieth spot to top it off! People in SCW – the entire roster – couldn’t get past her when it was even grounds, but when they were exhausted and she was fresh?! Not even those that hated her could deny how screwed the rest of them were. That the royale was hers to win this year – just as she had declared.

She was on the cusp of finishing this whole thing for good. All she had to do was keep herself at bay and not let anything – including the feelings she had put aside – get in the way.

Deanna feeling as she did?
Allowing this to happen?

This wasn’t supposed to happen! That part of her had to be gone because it wasn’t the Blue-Eyed Devil or the World-Ruler! She didn’t WANT to be that person! She couldn’t be that person! That person still wanted the redhead. That person still wanted a future with Deanna Frost. That person still dreamed… and hoped… for such a future.

That person… wasn’t strong enough to do all Selena had had to do to get to this point! That person wouldn’t have been strong enough to bloody and destroy Blake Mason for her daughter. That person would not have lasted more than a few minutes in the ring with Xander Valentine, let alone defeat him last year at the last Taking Hold of the Flame. And that person wouldn’t last more than a few minutes in THIS year’s Taking Hold of the Flame event!

To do what she needed to do, what she had to do for her family and her name and, yes, even for SCW – Selena had spent so long burying that part of her, only giving small concessions when absolutely necessary, like saving her vehicle during the car crash in Oberwessel earlier this year or keeping old keepsakes like her leather jackets. Things that appeased the part of her that still wanted to be… what she had been before…

But to give in this much? It was too much. It rocked the very foundation she stood under. It threatened to undo everything she had thought and planned. Because this WASN’T what was supposed to happen!

Villains don’t get this! her mind screamed, her voice barely able to straggle out a mere, soft cry of pain from the mental roar. Villains don’t get happy moments like this! YOU DON’T DESERVE IT! Call your shot! Take the royale! Take the world title, fine! But this?! This goodness?! This… this… you don’t deserve something THIS good! And you never will!

More tears fell silently, Selena feeling like she was going to suffocate any moment. Like she was going to drown like she should have all those years ago in the tub that Anastasia had held her under. But she didn’t want to die… not then and not now… not yet… She needed to stay alive. She needed to win the royale. She needed to get to the main event of Rise to Greatness one more time. She needed to win the world title back there.

It was the only way… the only way…

“H…” she fought with all she had against the panic and lack of air, struggling with every effort. She didn’t care if she was bawling her eyes out silently, staining her pillow with her tears. She didn’t care who was beside her or what consequences were heading her way now. She just needed to live. Live for a little bit longer. “He…help…”

The word came out in a whisper, but it was still released. She had managed a word! She had managed to speak a word despite her body trying to shut her down. Trying to give up before her mind did. “Help…” it came out a little louder, a little stronger, though still a whisper compared to the mild snoring Deanna made laying beside her. “Deanna…” she managed out a name, but the pride and elation only lasted for a millisecond before it was replaced with as much drive as she could get from it. “Deanna…” a little louder still. “Deanna…help…”

It wasn’t much, but as she felt the redhead begin to stir, Selena felt herself able to exhale what little air she managed to keep in her lungs. “Deanna…” she tried again, hearing a hum beside her as the woman turned towards her.

“Selena?” she heard her name, but it sounded more confused. “Are you in here?”
“Yes…” the platinum-blonde whispered as her heart continued to pound in her chest. “Something’s wrong…”

She felt the movement still beside her for a moment before she felt the weight shift, Deanna immediately shuffling closer beside her.

“What is it? Are you okay?” she heard Deanna ask, the concern etched in her voice, seemingly forgetting the fact that both were naked under the covers and in the same bed.

Ignoring that last part, Selena shook her head quickly. “No…” she rasped in-between the short breaths she managed to gulp in. “No, I’m not okay.” She spoke fast. “I can’t breathe.”

“What?” a mixture of shock and alarm filled the stunned woman’s ears but she barely had time to recognize the emotions for what they were before hearing the familiar voice again. “Do we need to go to the hospital?”

The question, innocent enough from the speaker, only further pushed Selena into the realms panic, the implications of such an act borderline with what she had allowed herself to do with the redhead hours ago. Taking her to the hospital ran the very real risk of something being found within her, or her current state being enough to warrant a “break from work”. One that, if imposed by the doctor strongly enough, could very well remove her from the royale entirely – ‘unable to compete’ would be the tag attached to her and then…

Blood skies
Blood moon
A land of ash…

Slamming her eyes shut, Selena quickly shook her head against the offered idea. “No…” she whispered. “Please, no hospital…”

“But what’s wrong?” Deanna asked urgently, her free hand (the other hand and arm helped her be propped on her side beside Selena) reaching out but too scared to touch the platinum-blonde.

“I don’t know…” Selena exhaled. “Something just…I feel like I’m drowning again…”

“Drowning?” Deanna whispered back, biting her lower lip. “Selena…” she was so afraid to say whatever it was she wanted to say, but it was a hesitation that didn’t last long when considering what was more important to her. “I need to touch, okay? Can you handle that now?”

“Touch-?” Selena asked in alarm, her anxiety spiking up again. No! She couldn’t be that close to Deanna again! She had already done irreparable damage to her plans by giving in our of desperation and panic. If she kept letting Deanna draw close…

“Please.” Came the imploring voice of the redhead. “I think I can help.”

Another hitch in Selena’s throat, another ‘barely there’ inhale and exhale and Selena was tired of feeling like any second now, she would suffocate or drown. She focused again on that will inside her. The need to survive and do all she had vowed to do. To do what she was so close to finally doing!

Slowly…slowly… the woman nodded her head and did all she could to calm herself as she felt the warm body beside her grow closer, trying to supress all the warning sirens that went off in her head. She felt a hand on her head, then on her neck, then over her wrist, then over her heart. She wanted to speak – ask what the hell was going on – but her panicked lack of control over her own breathing kept her from doing so.

“Okay…” beside her, she spotted Deanna – out of the corner of her eye – give a nod before the younger Frost refocused her attention on Selena. “Selena, I need you to listen to me, okay? I think you’re having a PTSD episode.”

“A…” Selena gulped. “I don’t have-“
“Yes, you do.” Deanna spoke softly but sternly. “With Anastasia and your claustrophobia. I think it was triggered.”
“I didn’t- I didn’t- I’m not that weak- I don’t-“

“Selena, stop.” Deanna stated firmly. “You’re body’s reacting to all this. It’s a stress response. It happened to me whenever I saw larges fire, okay? I know what to do with this, but I need you to listen to me and do what I say, okay?”

Again, Selena could only gulp for air before slowly nodding her head.

“Breathe from your abdomen. Not your chest.”
“I can’t-“
“Slow at first, okay? You can!” implored the redhead. “You can take just one breath from deep. Then another…”

Despite the struggle, Selena felt a little breath being sent down into her core, despite the panic that continued to rampage through her, causing her to shut her eyes and forced more tears out of them.

“That’s good.” Deanna whispered. “You’re doing amazing, baby. Now… I need you to touch four things and tell me what they are. Just four things.”

“I…” Selena gasped, fighting for each breath, but her hands did manage to move slowly. “Blanket…” she managed to gasp out. “Pillow.” She managed to move her hand to what was supporting her head. “Headrest.” She added, feeling the stern, hardwood behind said pillow while her other hand reached out in the dark for something anything, until her fingers touched. “You…” she breathed. “You.”

“Okay.” She felt Deanna smile at her. “Now three things that you hear, okay? Just three things that you hear.”

Still breathing raggedly, Selena tried to do as she was told. Tried to ignore the sounds her body was making against her will – beyond the powerlessness and panic she felt. “I hear my breathing. I hear your voice…” she strained to listen to a sound, any other sound beyond that, but there was nothing. Nothing for several seconds beyond her breathing and her ex-wife’s words. Until… “I hear..” her ears perked up at the sound. “I hear a fire crackling outside.” She breathed.

“Okay, good, dear, good.” Deanna nodded. “I’ve got you. You’re almost done. Now, tell me two things you smell, okay? Two things you smell.”

It took several seconds for the platinum-blonde to focus in on that particular sense, but when she did. “I smell your shampoo.” She answered. “Burning rose…” she forced out in a whisper. “And… I smell smoke.” She added. “From that fire outside.”

“Okay. One last thing, baby. Just one last thing.” Came the same kind, gentle voice Selena had known for so many years. “One thing you taste.”

Closing her eyes again, Selena dug deeper than she had for all the other senses. Past the hearing, the smelling, though she continued to hear and smell what she had said. Focusing on tasting until-

“Ashes.” She answered. “I don’t…I don’t know why but… it feels like there’s charcoal in my mouth…”

“That’s okay.” She heard as two warm hands held her face. “I’ve got you.” Added the woman that held her. “I’ve got you.” She repeated. “It’s okay.”

Slowly, slowly… as Selena recounted the things she had touched, heard, smelled, and tasted, she felt her mind slow, as did her heartbeat. Her breathing, ragged and harsh, soon followed until she could feel her diaphragm full work in her abdomen, allowing her to breath in a full tank of oxygen, the relief causing a few more tears to fall from her eyes. She relished in the regained control, even letting a few cries escape her, all the while, the constant she felt was the woman that held onto her throughout it all.

“I’m okay now…” she whispered, slowly pushing herself up to a seated position, the blanket falling off her to pool around her waist and legs. She inhaled and exhaled slowly once more, centering her thoughts with her mantra until she could open her eyes again, seeing Deanna sitting beside her patiently, the redhead holding the blanket up and around her own chest. “I’m sorry for waking you.” The Snow Queen settled on saying. “And for… all of that.”

An awkward response to say the least, but to her own credit, Deanna merely shook her head in understanding. “I’ve been there.” She admitted. “Couple of months ago, Ami wanted to have a barbeque. And you know people from Kentucky. She used the big propane one. Well… a big flame flew up into the sky- FWOOOO!” she moved her free hand to imitate the shape of the ‘fire wave’. “Next thing I know, I’m crying on the backyard patio deck.” She gave an awkward shrug. “And then there was that thing with Mason.”

“Don’t remind me.” Selena shook her head. “I’m still dealing with that legally. Well, our lawyer is.”

The redhead gave a nod before returning her focus on the woman beside her. “Are you sure you’re alright now?” she asked, reaching out to take Selena’s hand with both of hers. “I’ve never seen you so triggered before. Not since Malcolm and Anastasia days.”

“I’m okay.” The older Frost assured. “It was a bad episode and…” she sighed, opening her eyes to eye her barely concealed ex-wife. “Utter confusion here.”

“Me too.” Deanna nodded. “We can talk about it another time.” She added quickly. “No rush, okay?”

“I…” Selena sighed, settling on that for an answer… at least for now while she still had the royale to worry about. “I appreciate that, Deanna…” she admitted, pulling herself carefully out of the bed to dress herself in the clothes she – or Deanna – had discarded onto the floor. It took a few minutes of bumbling in the dark, but the former world champion managed to get herself dressed without any help or another panic episode grasping her. Standing there in the dim lit room, she turned in time to see Deanna pulling on a pair of pyjama bottoms and top.

“You’re not heading home now are you?” the redhead asked, concern laced in her words. “I can sleep on the couch if you’re uncomfortable.”

“I’ll be okay.” Selena tried, only for the shorter woman to reach out, grasping the woman’s hands with hers.
“Selena.” She tried. “I don’t like the idea of you driving home right after a massive attack like that. If you have another while behind the wheel…”

“I…” Selena begun to retort – to deny that such a thing would happen. And yet, nothing about tonight had been what she ‘expected to happen’. Her whole world had been shaken in just a few hours. She wasn’t even sure what else was going to happen. In many ways, the royale was achingly similar. Sure, she had an idea of the majority of entrants, but for all she knew, there was some kind of wildcard ready to be tossed in the mix.

After all… how had Hudson won last year? By sneaking in as an ‘Unknown’. she almost scoffed at the memory. She already had to deal with not knowing what losers from the world title thunderdome match would be hers to deal with (thank to Xander), but the unknown was her greatest enemy in this match. It was why, for the last ten years, the royale – and all its prize and prestige – had, for the majority of that decade, gone to the ‘surprisers’, people that either coasted through SCW for most of the year and then surprised everyone with a genuine effort during RTG season (or as Selena called it: The Syren method) or waited until the RTG season to return and use that as momentum (The Hudson Way).

Josh Hudson
Kandis
Adam Allocco
Ace Marshall twice over
David Helms
Alistaire Allocco
Giovanni Aries
James Evans
Ravyn Taylor

Selena knew them all – BEATEN them all in the past – but it was what they were when they had each won the royale – each one of them having done something she hadn’t done. And it was in that research that the pattern emerged. None of them, not even David Helms, could admit to being dominant in SCW. Hell, most of the winners hadn’t even touched the world championship in a long time when they had won the royale. They weren’t the biggest draw or the best wrestler in SCW. They were just… the lucky…

And it pissed her off. That flash-in-the-pans like Kandis and Adam Allocco – who never again reached those heights again – could claim something over her. That she couldn’t. It wasn’t THE reason, but it sure as hell was a good motivator for the Snow Queen to go through with her plans.

No… she would not let another royale slip by with some ‘retired, seeking glory, old veteran’ taking it or some ‘coaster’ taking it for the eleventh time and shooting to the top past her. She had worked her ass off all year without the world title to stay at the top of the roster. She had done it without being world champion, while Hudson, Xander and Evans had NEEDED it every step of the way!

She had waited long enough to call her shot while Hudson had burned through his stupidly and Xander had foolishly used his golden ticket to primp his own busted ego. Now? It was her turn to call her shot. Her turn to get the opportunity that was long overdue!

But that still doesn’t deal with the issue of tonight… her mind mocked, causing the Snow Queen to put aside her mental ramblings and address the emerald-eyed beauty in front of her. “Alright.” She nodded. “I’ll stay the night and-“

Her nose continued to sniff, the smell she had identified still rather strong. “Geez.” She winced at it, reaching up to rub at her nose with her fingers. “Who has a campfire this late in the-“

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!

The blaring alarm sound filling the house drowned out all thought in her mind, the platinum-blonde immediately jerking her head back to Deanna, suddenly able to see her rather clearly, thanks to the intermittent/rapid flashing of the alarm on the wall!

“What the-“ Deanna asked before realization hit both Frost mothers, their eyes growing wide.

Fire…

There was no mistaking the fire drill and both women were rushing out towards the bedroom door, Selena grabbing her cellphone as she did. The second they opened the bedroom door, however, the thick smoke billowed into the room, causing them both to cough and rasp.

“Duck low!” Ordered Selena, grabbing hold of Deanna’s hand and pulling her under the rising mass of black clouds. Together, the pair rushed out into the hall, Selena leading Deanna down the stairs and to the front doors, thrusting her cellphone into the redhead’s hands. “Take this and call the-“ she stopped as she saw Deanna’s expression before her.

Wide-eyed. Shocked. Paralyzed in fear- like a dear caught in the headlights.

It was enough for Selena to turn around… and see the massive flames dancing along the outside of her house and the inside of the kitchen and family-room space where the couple had been arguing earlier that night. Even to her, the fire looked like some damn monster trying to devour them. Still, she turned her back to it, ignoring the pangs in her chest. “Deanna!” she called out, even shaking the redhead to snap her out of it. “DEANNA!”

Immediately, the lost/frightened expression of Deanna disappeared, the woman opting to focus on the platinum-blonde in front of her. “Get outside and call 911! I’ll get the kids out!”

“But-“
“Just go!” Selena ordered. “I’ll get them out!”

Before Deanna could argue, Selena was already halfway up the stairs towards the bedrooms, keeping her head low against the dark smoke. “Elsianna!” she called out. “Amiliah! David!” she rushed down the hall to the first door, pulling it open to see Amiliah… still asleep on the bed. Were it not for the situation, Selena would have laughed at the sight. Instead, she quickly gathered up the sleeping girl, rushing out of the room in time to see David running out of the room.

“Mom-“ he whined, covering his ears against the blaring alarm. “What’s going-“
“Where’s your sister?”

“I don’t-“ the words were barely out of David’s mouth before his mother had rushed past him to look inside the eldest Frost-child’s bedroom – and how empty it was.

“Dammit!” Selena huffed out before turning over back to David. “Take your sister and go out through the front door. Do you understand? Keep your head low. Do you understand?”

Taking the waking Amiliah out of Selena’s arms, the boy gave a nod of his head before rushing down the stairs, the Snow Queen right on his trail. However, where the boy veered left from the stair-landing and towards the front door, Selena banked right and back towards the room of flames.

“ELSIANNA?!” she called out desperately. “ELSIANNA!” she yelled again. “Baby, please! Where are you?!”

She felt the scorching heat from the flames as she darted around the ‘heavy’ area of fire, staring through the bright orange and smoke for any semblance of her daughter. Her eyes burned and her voice was starting to hurt from the smoke she was breathing in but she kept calling, rushing to the basement and checking every possible room there before running back up the stairs. “ELSIANNA?!”

…

“MOMMY!”

The cry came out in front of her, towards the walls of fire and beyond them, towards the balcony at the far end of room. Squinting her eyes to see beyond the fires, she spotted the young girl standing back towards the end of the balcony and the fluffy white dog standing next to her, barking at the fires as if trying to keep them from getting closer to the child.

Selena was moving before she even realized it, running as fast as she could across the floors, around the bigger burning ‘spots’ until she had reached the balcony, barely able to stop before Elsianna was rushing into her arms and holding so tightly!

“I’m sorry!” she cried out. “I didn’t mean to. I-“

“It’s okay!” Selena tried, rubbing Elsiana’s back with her hand. “We’ll talk about it later!” she assured. “Right now, we need to-“

SNAP! CRACK!

She heard and felt the wood shake a little, her next actions entirely of instinct. “OBI! RUN!” she yelled, rushing back the way she came, the dog following her and, even, getting ahead of her. But as she reached the doorway that lead to the hallway towards the exit, the large SNAP was heard again and she barely had time to see the wooden beam from the second floor coming down towards her!

Thinking quickly, Selena tossed the small girl in front of her before recoiling back, just in time for the large wooden structure to fall, separating (but not injuring) the Frost mother and daughter, with Elsianna and Oberon on one side and Selena still in the family room.

“MOTHER!” Elsianna cried out, getting back to her feet, the flaming log separating them from one another.
“Go! Get out the front door!” Selena ordered.
“What about-“
“GO, ELSIANNA!” Selena shouted with all the authority she could muster. “I have another way out!”
“But-“
“GO!”

Elsianna didn’t need to be told a fourth time, the young girl taking Oberon by the collar and rushing towards the door, leaving Selena inside the burning room… allowing the Snow Queen to breathe a sigh of relief (as best as she could with all the smoke around her).

She hated that her last words to Elsianna would be a lie, but she had to get the child out of the house some way. And as she looked around the space, she actually did contemplate the exits.

Balcony? Too high.
Main-entrance? Blocked.
Side… she cast her eyes towards the dining room entry, which had even more flames fanning around it.

“Great.” She thought, backing up towards the farthest corner from the fires, slumping down to the floor and watching the fans inch closer and closer to her. “Just…great.”

For a moment, she let her mind wander. Her family was safe and that was most important, but how would SCW react? Would there be some kind of memorial service? Or would the fans break out into a rendition of “Ding! Dong! The witch is dead!” from The Wizard of Oz? Would they actually respect what she had tried to do for SCW? Or would nobody care?

Again, the Snow Queen sighed as she sat against the wall. “Not quite the-“ No… she refused to make that joke as her last words. Everyone else and their manager was going to be a joke about fire and the PPV title and she refused to be so obvious! Instead, she merely watched the flames burn, drawing closer and closer to her.

“So much for holding all the cards…” she thought bitterly. “Still…” she laughed a little. “It was nice while it-“

CRACK! CRASH!

More sounds sounded around, but these were different. She couldn’t figure it out, but she could get the location… which was a few feet from her, where the large beam had fallen to block her path. Moving what few steps she could, she was just in time to see a crowbar smash into it head first, the ‘tooth part’ digging into the burnt wood and yanking it away from the doorway and Selena, allowing it to fall on the ground with a thud.

The path suddenly cleared, Selena’s head shot up in shock to see-

“Move! Now!” Deanna ordered, her hand held towards the platinum-blonde. Just as quickly, Selena’s pale hand grabbed the redhead’s, the latter then pulling Selena over the log, down the hall and to the door she, herself, had exited before. Reaching it, Deanna threw it open and pushed Selena outside first before rushing out after her!

Neither woman stopped moving until they were several yards away, standing in the middle of the Black Arrow neighbourhood. They could see the children there, along with several of the residents of the neighbourhoods, most dressed in some form of pyjama/sleepwear and coats. They all were muttering something – words of concern or worry… or maybe some of them saw the bright lights and sirens of the firetrucks as they drove past and towards the Frost home.

Selena heard none of it really. In fact, she could barely hear anything as she gathered up Deanna and her children into her arms, the other members of her family grasping onto her just as tightly. She kept the children against her, trying to guard their sight as she and Deanna gazed at one another before, almost simultaneously, they both stared back.

Towards their house – their ‘Forever Home’… as slowly continued to burn away.

“It’s gone…” whispered Deanna, tears stinging her eyes. “It’s really gone…”

And for that… Selena had no words. There was nothing she could say – no line she could conjure up… nothing that could make her ex-wife’s words any less true.

Because Deanna was right… ‘Forever’ was gone.
‘Forever’ could be taken away.

Or maybe… Selena thought as she saw the flames devouring the once bright future she had believed in with all her heart.

Maybe ‘forever’ is as fake as the Flame itself…


*****************************************************************

The camera opens up to the interior of the Caesar’s Superdome in New Orleans, Louisana. The arena is empty still. The seats are empty still. Even the chamber above – the Thunderdome in the Superdome – is empty. But… the tension in the air palpable, more so by the large titantron screen that reads “Doors Open on 15:00” and begins counting down the minutes till the SCW Universe will be allowed in to witness the final pay-per-view before Rise to Greatness: Taking Hold of the Flame. And as the seconds continue to tick down, the camera changes to a shot closer to the ring, where a woman in blue jeans, a black button top and black leather jacket watches the time, the smile never diminishing from her face.

Tick tock… Tick tock… the final minutes tick away…

Slowly, the woman turns around, revealing the full figure and features of Selena Frost, The Snow Queen, The Face of SCW, and The World-Ruler. With a tilt of her head, she regards the audience, those that are tuning in live as this airs via social media. She hears the roars of the crowd just outside the arena, the SCW Universe clamouring to be let in.

Close now, aren’t we? She smirks. I don’t usually wait till now to say my piece, but I figured I’d keep it real and keep with the theme here of being the final one in THOTF. Just like I will be during and after the match. Because SCW has gone to great lengths to provide for this moment, I might as well do what no one else is doing and hype it up a little.

So… with that said… SCW Universe… those listening just outside on their cellphones. Those at home… all around the world…

You’ve got less than fifteen minutes left… She shrugs.Do you believe?

Despite the lack of time left, Selena lets her words settle, taking her time before she speaks.

You know… a lot of people have been talking to me. A lot of people. They’ve been saying how tonight is all on me. All the pressure. All the weight. All of it is on my shoulders. You’ve got so many people coming out here and saying the exact same thing. “It’s going to be me”, “it’s going to be me”, “it’s going to be me”, like that damn N’Sync month of May meme.

But a lot of people have been talking to me and about me – fan and superstar alike. Saying how this is it. That it’s time to put up or shut up. That it’s time to make good on what I’ve promised before anyone else did. What I swore – what I guaranteed – before anyone else did.

Because this isn’t a case of ‘monkey see. Monkey do’. You want that? Go watch Aries or Asher or the promos of Steward and Syren. Watch them do exactly what I did first. Why?

Because what I do makes a difference. she tilts her head. I told the whole world what was going to happen. I told the whole world from the beginning that NOTHING was going to stop me from calling my shot, winning MY match, going to MY main event, and taking back MY title.

And then I beat two legends in this business to secure that destiny. Now? There isn’t a gambler in Caesar’s casino that isn’t betting on me. There isn’t a smart man not placing their odds on me to win this. Not even the company you all love so much, fans. Think about it! Last year, I surpassed the royale and main-evented this event as the defending SCW World Champion.

This year? I’m STILL headlining it! Why? Because nobody cares about The Fall of Man. Nobody cares about Xander’s ego. Nobody wants to see Xander Valentine or one of the Three Stoogies holding the world title to end this show. Nobody cares about that because none of that matters.

Whoever wins the title? They’re just holding it for me till July. The other three? They’re just a couple of fools I’ll get to humiliate as I toss them out of the ring. Selena grins knowingly.

That ego match? She points upwards towards the Thunderdome. That? Doesn’t matter.

What does matter? What matters to SCW? Is me. That’s why I’m main-eventing this show again. That’s why I’m the one they are all talking about. Just like they were all talking about me when I left this federation almost two years ago. They talk about me – even though they hate me – because they NEED me. They want that image of me standing in the middle of the ring… the WINNER of the Taking Hold of the Flame royale. They NEED me to be the next number one contender for the world championship. And they NEED me to do the impossible again and headline Rise to Greatness for a FIFTH time.

The Snow Queen is silent for a moment, her eyes flashing towards the countdown timer before smiling and returning her attention to the camera. Just like all of you need me for that.

And I understand. It bothers you – it makes you sick – that no matter how much you hate me. How much you boo me. How much you cheer for anyone that stands against me… I’m the one that wins. I’m the one that survives, while all your little ‘heroes’ fall off one by one by one.

Take this royale. You wind the clock back over the last – what? – ten years? What happened to your ‘favorites’? What happened to those you cheered for? The ones that promised to ‘change SCW for good and for all of you’? I’m talking about Allocco, I’m talking about Hudson, I’m talking about Kandis and Marshall and Ravyn and Aries. Ten years of winners… where are they now? Which of them took their ‘royale win’ and made it last? Which of your ‘heroes’ took their flame and kept it burning as they carried the company on their back?

Allocco? Nope.
Helms? Nope.
Hudson? Selena laughs at that name. Not even close. Same with Kandis.

But me? In those ten years of ‘winners’, I’ve risen higher than ANY of them. To the point where I didn’t need the Flame to headline Rise to Greatness, did I? I didn’t need the Flame to be Wrestler of the Year or the Greatest of all Time, did I? Not like how Hudson needed it. Not like how Aries needed it. Not like how James Evans needed it. I headlined Rise to Greatness four times without EVER needing the Flame to do it.

That’s why you need to understand the magnitude of my words. Why, when I lay claim to this match and all its rewards, the whole world takes notice.

She smiles and shrugs her shoulders. Because I didn’t call my shot because I needed to win this royale. You all know that. I’ve got my contract still. I’ve got my world title shot waiting for me. Hell, you all were asking me for months – your world champion… excuse me, FORMER world champion – and big dumb ‘hero’ asked me. The world wanted to understand why Selena Frost called her shot for the royale rather than simply do what Xander is doing… and cash-in?

She laughs a little. And the answer has never changed for me. It’s always been so simple. I chose the Flame, not because I need it. But because I want it. And here in SCW, in MY SCW, in MY world, if I want something… then I take it and nothing stops me.

I wanted to kick James Evans’ off the chamber? I did it.
I wanted Blake Mason’s blood? I took it.
I wanted Kristen Scott embarrassed? I did it.
I wanted to silence Syren and beat her again, thus putting her in her place? I did it.
I wanted the fortieth spot in this royale? I took it.

Are you getting it? Everyone here is clamouring over the same lines. That it ‘doesn’t matter where they end up.’ That it ‘doesn’t matter how many people they have to throw over the rope – they’re going to do it to win the royale.’

Could you all be any more stupid?! she scoffs.

Of course it matters! That’s why most of you can’t stop talking about me and only me. That’s why Discord is talking about me, assuming I’ve already won! That’s why Sharper has literally called me the odds-on favorite Breakdown after Breakdown! Because while you all have to worry about lasting till the end and worrying about 39 other superstars. I’ve only got to worry about the five or so that will be left in the ring by the time my number is drawn.

Reaching into her leather pocket, Selena pulls out a set of five playing cards. While you all were humming and hawing about whether or not to fight in this match – or in Glory Braddock’s case quitting this match – I have been working since day one. Day one of my announcement for this match. Learning, preparing until I knew what I was up against. Till I knew about the five enemies in my way. Only five kinds of people that will be standing in the ring and in the way of my path – my rightful place.

Flipping a card, she reveals it to be the Ace of Spades. You got your Ace in the Hole, the wildcard. The no-one will see coming person. Someone that’s coasted through or been stuck in the midcard and is desperate to break that glass-ceiling. And to that? I would say Polly Pignotti but I’ll also throw in a woman on the other side of the spectrum where I am concerned in Ryan LeCavalier.

Both women attacked me to ‘make a name for themselves’ this past month. Both women tried to use me to break the ceiling they can’t break on their own. The difference? Where Polly had the guts to do it to my face, Ryan came from behind because she’s gutless. Because she’s scared…

Selena’s face grows more serious. Ryan… you tried – TRIED – to beat me in an ironwoman’s match at Fatal Fortunes, remember? What happened? I spent most of the match tossing you out of the ring and on your ass… she chuckles knowingly. You keep talking about that match and how ‘close you were’. Ryan… there wasn’t a moment in that match where you were leading the point system. There wasn’t a moment in that match where I wasn’t mocking you. And yes, you got a couple of good shots in, I’ll give you that… but so what? You think that’s enough to beat me?

I ask because in order to do what you are promising… you’re going to have to do what you’ve never done before. Beat me. Me? I just have to do what I did so many times the last time we faced… and toss your ass out of the ring.

And the fact is, I won’t care about you the second I do. Unlike Polly, I don’t respect you. I don’t care what happens to you because to me… you’re just like all the little new faces around here, using me to get the names on the card. Adam Brock, Dante Slayton, just to name a few.

Tucking the card away, Selena pulls out another: The ten of spades. The ten… she chuckles a little to herself. You know I beat a Perfect Ten a couple of times in my life. There’s always one in these royales. The 10/10 – the supposedly ‘perfect’ superstar. And Kimberly Williams will have you think that’s who she is. She’s gone from not giving damn about the world title, to wanting it more than anything. She wants to act like she’s the answer to all your problems, SCW Universe. Someone ‘new’. Some ‘fresh’. Like we haven’t heard that before, am I right? Problem is… she doesn’t have the wins to back it up.

Kimberly, come on – you should have stayed in your lane, hunny. We’ve been over this before, haven’t we? You had the chance to be world champion at Double Jeopardy a few years back and you couldn’t do it. Hell, since you’re so fond of bringing it up, you had the chance to become the world champion in your own Trios-made match and you couldn’t do it. Because you don’t belong in this, Kimberly. You belong with your little cart of weapons, running around your little Underground division. There? You’re perfect! Ten out of ten! But here? Amongst kings and queens and aces? Selena shakes her head. You’re just the lowest card in the hand, aren’t you?

Don’t knock it! It’s impressive to be the worst of the best, Kimberly. Better than the other 35 wrestlers that won’t even see me in this royale – they only WISH they could be the ten-card you are! But… Selena tucks the card away. There’s been enough frauds and lacklustre people winning this royale for the past decade. It’s time for a REAL change, not the unoriginal kind you’re promising…

Grinning, Selena pulls out another card: The Jack of Spades. Jack of Spades – Jack of All Trades. I’d be a fool to ignore the three I’m thinking of. I’ll be facing at least one of them. The ‘losers’ of the pay-per-view, of course! Two members of the Fall of Man and Xander Valentine… or all three members of the “Try Try Again” group.

Selena chuckles at the thought. I mean doesn’t that describe all four of these men actually? Creed failed to take the title so they tried again? Xander failed to keep the title, so he’s trying again? Aries failed to get the world title at this same event last time he had a shot, so he’s trying again while spewing the same crap he did three or four years ago about lizard kingdoms? And James Evans couldn’t win a chamber match earlier this season so he’s trying again? And when three of them fail – what do they want to do? Try again in MY royale. For MY match. For MY prize…

Selena’s face grows a bit angrier. If I were any of you – ANY of you – I would leave everything I have in the Thunderdome. Because if you think you can go through that, drag yourself down to the ring after losing, and take what is mine as a CONSOLATION prize?! her head jerks a little at the thought. You’ll find that you were better off locked in a cage with one another than having me come down at the 40th spot and seeing any of the three of you in my ring and match.

Carefully, with restraint, Selena tucks the card away. And finally, what’s a royale with a returning attraction? I’d be a fool not to expect this and that is the proverbial ‘runner-up’. The 2nd place! And boy – you made it clear how much you love this number two, am I right?

Turning her hand, Selena reveals the Queen of Spades. Syren… everyone’s favorite 2nd best. How’s that going for you? I mean, that’s what happened at Rebirth. You didn’t win but you weren’t the one pinned, right? And how many of these royales were you so close… but not quite good enough to win? I’ll wager a number of the names I mentioned for the past decade of winners got there by eliminating you, didn’t they? Like your wife?

The Snow Queen smiles knowingly. You’ve been the runner-up in this match more than anyone else, Syren. It be impressive if it wasn’t associated with dropping the ball at the last minute – something you and Xander Valentine seem to have in common, though I imagine if he chokes again, he’ll be able to show that to you while I wait for my number to come up.

But back to you, Zoe. Look, I get it. You’re back for the umpteenth time… you’re promising to get the world title for the umpteenth time… you’re vowing to be ‘the best in the world’ for the umpteenth time…

But there’s a reason I am the number 40th spot and you are not. There is a reason I am where I am and you are not. And that is because, for all you’ve done in the past… you can’t compete at my level. You can’t last at my level. Oh sure, you can come up here once in a while and say some phrases that were a hit back in 2009 and a few years after that.

But who’s the one losing to Dante Slayton?
Who’s the one that’s blown every opportunity that’s been gifted to her the last five years?
Who’s not even been relevant since before this decade even began?
And who’s the one that’s clinging to shortcuts like this match to get to the top?

Selena sighs and shakes her head. See, Syren… Zoe… we already had a has-been come in and win this royale last year… look what he’s doing now. And as I made it clear, I am done letting the royale be for people like you – wash-ups that can’t hack it full-time anymore and are looking for a shortcut to what is rightfully MINE! I am DONE letting coasters and ‘old glory seekers’ steal MY main-event and MY world championship just to settle their own insecurities!

So no, Syren, I don’t care about your generic promises of ‘overcoming the odds’. I don’t care about your promise that you’ve NEVER kept in over SIX YEARS! I don’t care about what you promise to do to me or whatever poetic crap Ravyn’s writing in your promo-scripts…

Slowly, Selena pulls out the cards she just showed. Just like I don’t care about Polly and Ryan’s ‘antics’ and ‘desperation’ to be noticed and taken to main-event level that I rule.

Just like I don’t care about Kimberly Williams’ ‘new and unoriginal gimmick’ of ‘Saving SCW and the World Championship’ when the only person that’s done right for SCW has, and always has been, me.

Just like I don’t care about The Fall of Man and Xander and their treatment of this as the consolation prize.

And why…

With all the cards in her hand, Selena holds them up with the backs towards the camera. Because none of them hold all the cards… I do.

And when you hold all the cards and all of the power… she tosses one card over the ropes and onto the ground below. You adapt to every situation. she tosses another card over the ropes. You find a way to transform every situation into your advantage. She tosses another over. Into your benefit. she tosses a fourth card over, leaving one in her hand.

Until there is just you. You with everything you want right in front of you – Yours for the taking. And I have waited long enough to take what is mine – what has ALWAYS been mine. And no matter what you say, what you promise, what you vow, what you swear, what you copy from me to make yourself ‘look better’… no one… not a soul… is taking what belongs to me and-


BZZZZZZZZZZZZTTT!

Selena looks up to see the buzzer on the titantron has reached zero. With a knowing smile, she holds up her hand. Wait a minute. She calls out, looking beyond the camera.  Tell the boys to wait a couple of minutes. Cause their World-Ruler and Snow Queen says so.

A second of silence passes… and no one enters the arena, causing Selena to smile, her hand holding the last card she has.

And no one, when this night is over and I give you all what you truly need…

No one will be able to doubt me.
No one will be able to deny me.
No one will be able to do anything but one thing…

Slowly, Selena turns the last card in her hand around, showing the face to the audience. The King of Spades… except the K has been etched with a “Q” and, instead of the face of a king… is the familiar face of a Snow Queen. A grin forms fully on the Snow Queen’s face. Believe it…

Now… you can let them in. she declares, turning to give one more grin to her audience. Welcome to MY world, SCW. Prepare to celebrate your World-Ruler and The 2025 Taking Hold of the Flame Battle Royale Winner!

The camera slowly fades on the confident face of the Face of SCW before going entirely to black.

[CowgirlsFromHell]

Ride Hard, Live Free Part X: Taking Hold of the Flame Pt. 2

[Jay Gold]

Part 2 of 2. Not as much as I wanted, but it will have to do. For now...



Season 6 / Episode 41 / Curse Of The Dark Diamond (Part 2 - Taking It Back)

[Chris Cannon]

Here is my entry for Taking Hold of the Flame. Enjoy.

A Correction of History

[Chance Owens]

And mine.

No such thing as Coincidence

[Spencer Pryce]

OOC : here's my shitty little shoot lol. Things are coming though.

-------------


Surprise!
 
By the time y’all see this video, you’ll have already been shocked, stunned, discombobulated, whatever you want to call it after seeing yours truly step through the curtain. But honestly? You shouldn’t be. You should be wondering why you ain’t seen me sooner. Yeah, I did show my face almost a year ago when dear old Dad was being an absolute menace to Amy, Bree, and everyone else who tried to stop him from acting like a lunatic. But it looks like the joke was on me… and everyone else, wasn’t it?
 
Dad wasn’t Dad.
 
Or rather Simon wasn’t Simon. And suddenly so many things made so much sense all at once.
 
The man who fathered me without knowledge hadn’t stopped returning my calls. He simply wasn’t able. It was that motherfucker, the imposter, who ignored me. Okay, fine. All well and good. Look, I am clearly a wronged party is this whole dramatic saga, but I’m not the only one. This man, if he can call himself that, Ryan…. Really fucked with everyone, didn’t he? Myself, Amy and her family, Bree, those goofballs he had as followers… and every single fan who believed he was really Simon Lyman and that Simon had lost his goddamn mind.
 
Personally, let me say that while I am extremely pissed off about this whole fucked up situation, I’m also thankful to the Lord above that Simon, my actual father, did not in fact lose his goddamn mind.
 
Since he’s found his way back and made the truth known, we’ve been in contact. There’s a lot to unpack but I’m hoping to start over and pave a way forward getting to know each other for real.
 
Now that you know all of that, let me clear up a few things I’m sure you’re already asking. Am I here just to stand in line to kick Ryan’s ass? Nah. That’s Amy’s fight. If he pulls some dirty shit I don’t have a problem backing her up, but as wronged as I was, she was more so.
 
Did I only come to Taking Hold of the Flame to jump in and get my hands on Ryan and surprise some people and get a payday? Also nah. Supreme Championship Wrestling…. I am back. I got a brand new shiny contract, and there’s a Championship currently being disputed that if I recall correctly – and I know I do – yours truly never lost. Asher, Jordan? I’m watching y’all. You got something of mine and I’d like to get it back.
 
And finally… what can we expect from Spencer Pryce this time around? Is he the polite boy who was voted Rookie of the Year in 2021? Is he the asshole who got himself stripped of the United States Championship and fired for getting into a shoving match with Simon? Or is he something else entirely we have no idea what to expect?
 
I guess you’ll just have to wait and see, won’t you?
 
I will clarify one thing for you, though. You can absolutely bank on the Submission Technician not having lost even half a step in the ring or on the mat. Always remember…. You can’t pin me if you can’t breathe.
 
SCW, you’re on notice. And it’s gonna be truly Epic.

[Cid]

To the two people who will read this: I apologize that Docs massacres the formatting when sharing links to these roleplays, which has made it so I have to upload them as .pdf attachments directly to the forums like a pretentious dumbass.

[Simple77]

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lu_9...it?tab=t.0

There's my offering. For those that read, let's hope I find the time to write like I used to.

Love to all