Post by gothmother on May 14, 2021 8:28:31 GMT -5
NO HARD FEELINGS [BUT IT'S HARD, WHEN YOU’RE HURT]
[Garrison, New York]
With great power comes great responsibility.
A little something she never took into consideration when first becoming a wrestler. All she wanted was to fight, easy and simple. And no matter the chance, she took it. Elena DeDraca had so much unfinished business back then, that everything was better than dealing with it. Too present was the time that she fought for just a few bucks or a warm meal, in front of drunken pigs that tried to get handsy. A little something that females nowadays probably weren’t aware of. Two decades ago it was hard for a woman to get a foot in the door of professional wrestling. Or better said, being taken seriously while doing so. It didn’t matter how talented you were, you would never end up main eventing a show.
But that was then and shouldn’t be a bother anymore, right? At least it wasn't for Elena, knowing what all she had achieved in the past years. Or considering the wave of success she was riding currently. Project Honor didn’t make it easy for her. Not at all. But maybe this was what really made this title run mean something. Despite her big name, it was her talent that put her in the Legacy title scene. Combined with her will to sacrifice everything made her the champion she was. Authentic. And even though she wasn't deaf to the critiques, it was easy to tell that she was above them. Negativity had no place in her life. No matter the circumstances. For way too many years she allowed others to snail their way into her mind, poisoning it so to speak. When they said she wasn't good enough to compete for the big ones, she accepted. But that was the logic of leeches and narcissistic people. They would keep you small so they never had to fear you could outshine them.
Well, fuck you.
To a degree she felt sorry for her upcoming opponents. It was the no pity kind of sorry though. But for the first time in her career she allowed her demons to walk right beside her. No need to lock them in the darkest corner of her heart, or was it the soul? If one believed in that, c'est la vie. In the past months it had been said again and again, Elena DeDraca obviously seemed to be in her prime. And even though the wolves kept appearing at her door, she didn’t break a sweat. If anything, it put a bright smile on her face. Dimitri Watson. Drago Santiago. Kayla Richards. Who else? Oh yes, Shawn Two Tries Warstein. It was easy to see the boy had no rhythm but he wanted to dance.
Sometimes it was necessary to adapt your routine. To change everything around you to explore the path you just stepped on. It was no different in the wrestling world. Of course over the years competitors created a workout plan for themselves, but to remain hungry- you had to constantly change. Elena knew this better than most, as she has been a creature of chaos and madness. So instead of following her old tricks, she added new challenges for herself. Jiu-jitsu, Muay thai, or the back to basic form of wrestling. Here and there Mark would perform as her training partner, at least till the kicks made a return.
Once more a little grin was plastered over her face when thinking about their last session. After a good hour he quit, walking out on her without a word. He rubbed over his ribs, and mumbled something on his way upstairs. Self control was a thing she had mastered since the day she was born.
But what if I just don’t care?
The music blasted out of the speakers while she repeatedly kicked the dummy to the face. The poor thing looked so ready to quit, but who would have helped him? Geppetto? Probably not. She was using the back of her hand to remove sweat from her forehead, ready to attack again- as her phone began to go off. If her eyes hadn’t been looking in that direction, she wouldn’t have heard one beep. Elena quickly removed her gloves, checking the display. Instantly her mood dropped, it was Isabella’s daycare.
“Yes? What’s wrong?”
A hint of panic swung in her voice. They never called, there never was a reason to. So to say she was nervous, was probably the understatement of the year. The lady on the phone was speaking slowly, she sounded almost bored. But to be fair, the only thing Elena really heard was this: Isabella, fight, blood.
“I am on my way.”
She didn’t bother turning off the music or getting changed, on her way out she shouted towards Mark. He was right behind her without asking too many questions, car keys in his hand. Elena DeDraca never was the best driver, but the mood she was in right now? They would probably not even make it around the corner or out of the garage. She was sitting there right next to him in the passenger seat, not saying a word. Her greenish eyes were a few nuances darker than he was used to. Her hands clenched into fists.
Several times he wanted to break the silence, but knew better. She either would have ignored him or gone into full confrontation mode. So they spent the relative short drive in uncomfortable silence. Elena jumped out of the car even before he had settled in the parking spot, looking at her daughter. There she stood, with a small plast on her forehead. Looking extremely pissed for a six year old. Without even looking at the other figures standing around, she picked her little princess up. The little one cuddled close, hiding her head on her mother’s collarbone.
“Miss DeDraca… .”
“Missus DeDraca- Kristianson.”
Her husband had already appeared behind her, laying a hand on her shoulder. It took Elena all her strength to not punch people left and right. The problems of a mother that made a living out of beating people up. But she was ready to settle this without causing a scene, breathing deeply. For the first time she noticed the other female standing next to the daycare mother. One of those Botox Betty’s, probably becoming rich by marrying the grandfather type. The arrogance was so thick that Elena was certain if she wanted, she could touch it. The woman took a step towards her, taking off those larger than life sunglasses. Mark in this moment tightened his grip.
“If I had known the mother is worse than the kid, I would have called the cops directly. I didn’t know they allow just about everyone in this daycare.”
Much to her own surprise Elena managed to take her focus off of Botox Betty, looking at the female in charge. She pressed Izzy tighter to her body, knowing this would keep her calm. The woman looked very uncomfortable.
“Okay, I am here. So what happened?”
“Izzy and Jeremy were playing outside, you know where we keep the little ducklings and such. I then turned around for a moment to look at one of the other kids, before hearing a scream. When I put my focus back on them, I see Isabella kneeling on Jeremy’s back. Screaming something like: “You need to apologize”. I managed to separate them, but not without Jeremy pushing her and Izzy scratching herself at the nearby tree.”
Elena slowly nodded before looking back at the other mother. She was currently patting the head of her son, mumbling something rather disrespectful. There was slight movement on her arms, Isabella moving her mouth closer to her ear. Whispering.
“Jeremy squeezed one of the ducklings. I told him to stop, but he just squeezed harder. I think the baby duck is hurt, mama.”
It was hard to put in words how much pride Elena felt in this moment. The best thing she created in her life, Isabella, had outgrown all her expectations. Kind hearted and yet so independent. One day she would change the world. Doing better than her parents ever could.
“What can you expect from this kid? Lying right through her teeth. Daughter of someone that gets half naked for work, parading and praising Satan. I will definitely press charges against this. I mean, look at the way she dresses. I saw her on this app, only wearing underwear. Like a cheap slut…”
In the matter of thirty seconds two things happened. One, Elena put Izzy into Marks arms, sending them towards the car. She kissed her daughter gently on the head, whispering sweet nothings. Hearing their footsteps moving away from the scene, she moved closer to Betty. Her focus on the daycare mother though.
“Moira, may you take Jeremy to the inside for a moment. Give him pudding or a good spanking, I don’t care. But his mother and I have something to talk about.”
Elena’s voice was filled with authority, neither of them dared to contradict. Instead they were quick to move out of sight, leaving them on their own. Suddenly the parking lot didn’t appear as huge anymore, for Elena the rest of the world vanished- just this plastic bag of a woman on her mind. She was fully aware that a film of sweat was forming on the female’s forehead. Once again she was mumbling, but she didn’t gather her opposite attention. Elena DeDraca stood there, still and stoic, her mind was racing though.
Inside her head two scenarios were coming to life.
One, she would take one more step forward and grab the bitch by the throat. Giving her the beating of her life, before being taken away by the cops. Probably locked away, going to court and destroying the life she built for herself and those she loved.
Be clever, Elena.
Two, she would take a step forwards and grab the bitch by the throat. Strangling her to death and burying her body behind the house, pulling a Constance Langdon. Having the nicest roses in town.
Both options sounded tempting, while if she were given the chance- she would go for the second one. And if that had been another time, she probably still would. But that was the struggle she had to face. Every mother in this world knew how hard it was to raise a kid, while not losing yourself doing so. Imagine how rough it was when you were the leading champion of a fighting company. But this wasn't sixteen year old Elena that didn’t care about consequences. This was Elena the mother, wife and role model.
I am so screwed.
Either way she took that one step closer, indeed so close that she would smell the woman’s disgusting perfume. It was probably more expensive than the clothes Elena wore right now, but it smelled like cow piss. The fake tan seemed to come off at this very moment. It was delicious. When Elena rolled her shoulders the woman nearly had a heart attack, scared for the obvious. But that never happened. Instead Mark made a reappearance into the picture. Wrapping his arm around his wife's waist. He knew if she snapped, it would be impossible to hold her back- but that didn’t stop him from trying. She moved her head to the side, looking up.
“Is Izzy okay?”
“Yeah, she comes after her momma. Can we go, love?”
Every fibre of her body wanted to protest, but she wouldn’t. Instead she turned around and cuddled into him. They had only taken a few steps as she looked back over her shoulder. This time grinning.
“I might be scum, Betty. But at least I make my own money, right? I don’t have to fuck someone that digusts me to pay for my next pedicure. Or was it him fucking the poolboy? You know, I always get those things confused.”
The woman still didn’t move.
“Either way, I would suggest you take Jeremy and your dry pussy away from here. I have a feeling that you wanna spare yourself another encounter.”
There was no verbal response, but honestly- what was there left to say? Elena and Mark kept walking, never looking back. When they reached the car he opened the door for her. Always the gentleman she thought to herself, but closed the door again.
“Is it one of those moments where you need to be on your own?”
She smiled and nodded. He planted a deep kiss on her lips, looking into her eyes.
“I will meet you guys at home. Tell Izzy we will rescue all the duckies in the world and that I love her.”
She kissed him once more before starting to walk. It was quite the way home, but it didn’t matter. That was her therapy. Walking. No matter the weather or distance. Today Elena DeDraca realised two things. Money doesn’t make you happy. And more importantly, she was the master of her own fate. She could be everything she wanted, picking for herself. The merciless and impulsive she demon inside the ring. But in her private life she was the adult that Izzy needed and deserved. Loving and caring.
After walking for probably fifteen minutes she grabbed her phone, pressing the number one. It took a moment before the other person took her call. A thick Italian accent greeting her.
“Shawna, I have to ask you a favour...”
The expression on Elena’s face was everything but loving and caring. It was treacherous, cold and merciless. Maybe at the end of the day people can change, if they really want. Or, more realistic, they learn to live with their darkest desires. And find a way to give in to them every now and again.
LOW LOVE [MY LOVE WILL ACHE YOUR SOUL]
[Rio de Janeiro, Brazil]
You get what you give.
This statement was more or less true. Or at least it was something that kept people going, believing that there were bigger things waiting. For a long time Elena DeDraca didn’t buy into this. For too many years she had the feeling that she was the one always giving. Or that the universe didn’t give a flying fuck about her or her well being. And maybe that was still the case. But there came a point when she decided to grab the bull by its horns. Or balls? Or whatever clever people said. And right at this point, everything changed. Sure there had been quite some collateral damage on the way, but it was worth it.
If they hadn’t been living in such a chaotic time she would have felt thrilled to be in Rio de Janeiro. A place so colourful that you could discover something new on a daily basis. People that probably didn’t have much, but they lived their life to the limit. Appreciating every little moment of it. Something that the European culture had long forgotten about. Let’s not mention the self proclaimed force called the United States of America. Those living a wealthy life thought of themselves as superiors. But not Elena. Too well did she remember the times when she had nothing, too proud to ask for a helping hand. Even worse, accepting the guidance. To outgrow herself she had to eat a lot of dirt. Which probably was the main reason she felt closer to the people here, than she could ever with her own folks.
What about some Samba lessons?
The thought alone was amusing. A total no go, but this was besides the point. She had to be here to absorb the atmosphere. Getting herself in the mindset of the Fist of Hydra. Despite the company's wish she didn’t stay at the hotel they picked. Something fancy with a few stars in their resume. Instead she found herself a private place to stay, with an eldery couple. They had a spare room. It wasn't anything special, but at least she felt safe. And cut off from the rest of the world. Every evening they would eat something like Feijoada, Moqueca or Acarajé. During the day they were going after their business, giving her privacy. Today was no different when she stood outside in their garden, looking at the colourful flowers. Some of them she couldn’t even pronounce. But one of them was her favourite. Somewhere in between all the bright colours she found a dark, blue flower. Not fitting, yet standing out.
“Sometimes there are so many things to say that I just can’t find the words. I wanna address this and that but then realise it really doesn’t matter. I often find myself surrounded by people that don’t speak the same language. Not in a literal way, but you get the idea. You tell them what you think, but they are so quick going into defensive mode that it is pretty much pointless. Which, much to my dismay, seems to be half the roster of Project Honor. Every show I punish myself to listen to the things people have to say. I sit there trying to hold my eyes open, waiting for that one bright moment, but it never comes. Now I don’t know why that is the case, but my best guess would be- people are lazy. Hand them things and they will never get their ass up doing real work. We have seen it again and again. But who is really to blame? A mediocre competitor that gladly takes the goods, or a company that doesn’t learn from previous mistakes?”
She softly brushed over the pedals of the flower, inhaling the scent. It was strong, alluring and somewhat reminded her of something. For a moment she couldn’t decide what it was, till she remembered all the moments she walked the old graveyards of London. Cemetery flowers. Too sweet.
“Look back at the last episode of Fallout. There you had the queen of taking shortcuts, Kayla Richards. The loudmouth that thinks she is the ruler of this place. And what happened? None of her overused insults brought her the win or a better standing. I am sorry honey, but there is a reason why I am the first pick. But we are drifting off once more. She isn’t the only one that got handed things. Can you guess where I am heading? Shawny- pooh. Despite his great performance since signing with the company, there are some things you can’t erase. Right when he lost to Ozymandias, big balls Johnson comes up and hands him a title match? Why? Where was Johnson when I outperformed people every show I was booked at? Where is my basket of goodies for representing this company like I do? I tell you what all of this is about, bigotry.”
“I am not the number one pick behind closed doors because I don’t lick anyone’s butt. Now one could say Warstein is a rebel himself, but I don’t see it. All I see as of late is him having a constant boner for Kasey. I mean really? It’s not my business who you stalk, but you could be less creepy. On the other hand, someone like her might like exactly that. Didn’t you feel like a real winner making an ass of yourself watching my last match? Maybe it’s just me, but I get the feeling you are not taking this very seriously. If we leave out of sight that you didn’t really earn this shot, it is still your big chance. And maybe under other circumstances this could be your night, Shawn, but I don’t live for what if or but or maybe. I will both spare us going through your latest records, you have been there- and I don't care. Neither of them is me, just like none of my previous opponents are you.”
For just a little longer her fingers remained on the flower. It felt slightly sticky, leaving some sort of pollen on her fingers.
“Some would say we are frenemies. But I don’t agree with them. Not for once have I considered you an enemy. A hard hitter, but that is what I am looking for. But if not the enemy, then you must be a friend? Wrong. That is the way people think, black or white. There is nothing in between. And that is the way that limits most of the human race and stops them from reaching greatness. If anyone, at any time, asked me about Shawn Warstein the answer would be simple. A good fighter. I can respect you for exactly that, but there is nothing beyond that. It is kinda adorable though that some people still think I came here to make friends. What for? I have friends. And just because they are not part of this company, doesn’t mean that I don’t have them. This is work. To a degree it is my life. But when I take off my boots, I walk into a different chapter. The personality might remain the same, but I can just be Elena.”
“I am sorry for crashing anyone’s ideas of us having a little tea party with biscuits. I won’t allow anyone to drag me down. Which once again leads back to you, Shawn. I know how proud you are of having your way with words. I applaud you for that. But what else do you want me to do? Throw you a parade because you won yourself the title Tyrant? You have been riding this horse for quite some time, without ever adding anything to it, so get over it. You could have won Babe of the Year and it would also get old. This is the way this business works and I really thought you knew this by now. But maybe your senses are dimmed. Maybe, and that is just me guessing, you had too many people telling you how great you are. Sure you hold the tag team titles, but that is nothing you achieved on your own. And yes I am aware you have been great in other companies as well, but who asks about that? No one. This is Project Honor. And while both our records are impressive, I would say I kick you in the nuts with mine. No worries, I won’t. Although I could.”
She let out a small giggle, rather untypical for the person that was Elena DeDraca. But obviously the thought itself was giving her the giggles. The sun was standing high, forcing her to find some shadow underneath some old trees.
“When I was younger I was not able to understand how this world works. I kept telling myself that there are things that you can’t change. That there are rules you must obey, even though I had my problems with it. At points I did try and it still didn’t work in my favour. But you Shawn, you just do your thing. You think of yourself as the greatest in this company, even though you might be coy about it at points. I have been able to look into your mind briefly. As some might have forgotten, including you, I gave you your first loss in Project Honor. And if that alone doesn’t sting, it was when we both wanted to qualify for the Legacy title. Now look how that went for me. First and current champion. And pretty much everyone’s mountain to climb at this point. Even back then I could say we showed respect towards each other. Yet you got so much ahead of yourself, thinking that you could do what so many others tried before you. I appreciate your self esteem, wishing more people had it instead of huge egos, but that might remain wishful thinking.”
“There might come a day when this company will be ruled by a tyrant, but that time is not now. I have sacrificed all of myself over and over again. Do you think this was all for nothing? That after I pushed my own family down a cliff, you can overcome me? Not yet. I have watched every match since we met. I don’t see many flaws in your style, but there are still some. Please don’t think that I view myself as flawless. I know there is always something to improve, but at least I don’t give away my weak spots. Shall I present one of yours? Or do we wait till you are ready? To a degree I think that people are meant to have a Messiah complex when being a wrestler. One thinks she is the enforcer of Project Honor, and you? You think you sit on a throne ala Putin, ruling your folk. Let me come clear, Shawn, you got no folk. And no one wants the Sputnik V. Maybe it is me coming from Europe, but I don’t really get all high for Tyrants and dictators. If that is who you think you are, love, then you are definitely in the wrong area of the world. If you want world domination I once more have bad news for you. You are Pinky and never will be Brain.”
Elena stretched almost lazily, the grin still on her face. A cool breeze was coming up, kissing her pale skin.
“I don’t expect my words to hold any value for you, or even reach you. But they are not less true because of that. Somewhere in the back of your mind you know that I have not told a lie. And for the rest of your time in Project Honor I will remain the thorn in your side. The one that ruined your clean record. The one that kept you from becoming the Legacy champion. I didn’t rub your ego back then and I won’t start now. I am fully aware that everyone can beat everyone, but I will go all in for this match. I will bring everything I got and if you’re not willing to do the same, you have no one to blame but yourself. You have seen more than once what I do to those that slack. To those that wanna become famous by using my name a little too much. It might seem like a good idea in the first place, but in the end they will fall victim to my feet. And as you might remember it is not a very pleasant experience. A lesson if you look at it from the right angle, but still nothing you want on repeat.”
“Win or Lose, I always stand tall. I have been through too much to accept defeat at this point. So even though I can accept losing, I do whatever is in my might to work against it. You might not follow my logic or think that I erase the points that I made, but you have to see the whole picture. I have come from injury, retirement and heartbreak to stand here, holding this title high. Fuck what everyone else wants. If they are tired of seeing me succeed, it only motivates me that little more. And sometimes that is what stands between being a good and a great champion. I said that since day one, I stop when I am done and not when I am tired. And that is the thing, Shawn, I am not done yet. I have so much more to give. A lot more to prove to myself and those that linger in the shadows waiting for their chance. Don’t be sad when things don’t fall into place for you, there is always a next time. Another opponent, another title- another story to tell. But in this one, you are not the main role. This is myLegacy. Everyone else might have a guest appearance, but will be left as a footnote.”
She took another step backwards, her whole body covered in shadows by then. The sun was fighting for her attention, but that never happened. Instead Elena covered herself in the very welcoming darkness. Her eyes focusing on the camera.
“You are welcome, Shawn. Sincerely, the thorn in your side.”
[Garrison, New York]
With great power comes great responsibility.
A little something she never took into consideration when first becoming a wrestler. All she wanted was to fight, easy and simple. And no matter the chance, she took it. Elena DeDraca had so much unfinished business back then, that everything was better than dealing with it. Too present was the time that she fought for just a few bucks or a warm meal, in front of drunken pigs that tried to get handsy. A little something that females nowadays probably weren’t aware of. Two decades ago it was hard for a woman to get a foot in the door of professional wrestling. Or better said, being taken seriously while doing so. It didn’t matter how talented you were, you would never end up main eventing a show.
But that was then and shouldn’t be a bother anymore, right? At least it wasn't for Elena, knowing what all she had achieved in the past years. Or considering the wave of success she was riding currently. Project Honor didn’t make it easy for her. Not at all. But maybe this was what really made this title run mean something. Despite her big name, it was her talent that put her in the Legacy title scene. Combined with her will to sacrifice everything made her the champion she was. Authentic. And even though she wasn't deaf to the critiques, it was easy to tell that she was above them. Negativity had no place in her life. No matter the circumstances. For way too many years she allowed others to snail their way into her mind, poisoning it so to speak. When they said she wasn't good enough to compete for the big ones, she accepted. But that was the logic of leeches and narcissistic people. They would keep you small so they never had to fear you could outshine them.
Well, fuck you.
To a degree she felt sorry for her upcoming opponents. It was the no pity kind of sorry though. But for the first time in her career she allowed her demons to walk right beside her. No need to lock them in the darkest corner of her heart, or was it the soul? If one believed in that, c'est la vie. In the past months it had been said again and again, Elena DeDraca obviously seemed to be in her prime. And even though the wolves kept appearing at her door, she didn’t break a sweat. If anything, it put a bright smile on her face. Dimitri Watson. Drago Santiago. Kayla Richards. Who else? Oh yes, Shawn Two Tries Warstein. It was easy to see the boy had no rhythm but he wanted to dance.
Sometimes it was necessary to adapt your routine. To change everything around you to explore the path you just stepped on. It was no different in the wrestling world. Of course over the years competitors created a workout plan for themselves, but to remain hungry- you had to constantly change. Elena knew this better than most, as she has been a creature of chaos and madness. So instead of following her old tricks, she added new challenges for herself. Jiu-jitsu, Muay thai, or the back to basic form of wrestling. Here and there Mark would perform as her training partner, at least till the kicks made a return.
Once more a little grin was plastered over her face when thinking about their last session. After a good hour he quit, walking out on her without a word. He rubbed over his ribs, and mumbled something on his way upstairs. Self control was a thing she had mastered since the day she was born.
But what if I just don’t care?
The music blasted out of the speakers while she repeatedly kicked the dummy to the face. The poor thing looked so ready to quit, but who would have helped him? Geppetto? Probably not. She was using the back of her hand to remove sweat from her forehead, ready to attack again- as her phone began to go off. If her eyes hadn’t been looking in that direction, she wouldn’t have heard one beep. Elena quickly removed her gloves, checking the display. Instantly her mood dropped, it was Isabella’s daycare.
“Yes? What’s wrong?”
A hint of panic swung in her voice. They never called, there never was a reason to. So to say she was nervous, was probably the understatement of the year. The lady on the phone was speaking slowly, she sounded almost bored. But to be fair, the only thing Elena really heard was this: Isabella, fight, blood.
“I am on my way.”
She didn’t bother turning off the music or getting changed, on her way out she shouted towards Mark. He was right behind her without asking too many questions, car keys in his hand. Elena DeDraca never was the best driver, but the mood she was in right now? They would probably not even make it around the corner or out of the garage. She was sitting there right next to him in the passenger seat, not saying a word. Her greenish eyes were a few nuances darker than he was used to. Her hands clenched into fists.
Several times he wanted to break the silence, but knew better. She either would have ignored him or gone into full confrontation mode. So they spent the relative short drive in uncomfortable silence. Elena jumped out of the car even before he had settled in the parking spot, looking at her daughter. There she stood, with a small plast on her forehead. Looking extremely pissed for a six year old. Without even looking at the other figures standing around, she picked her little princess up. The little one cuddled close, hiding her head on her mother’s collarbone.
“Miss DeDraca… .”
“Missus DeDraca- Kristianson.”
Her husband had already appeared behind her, laying a hand on her shoulder. It took Elena all her strength to not punch people left and right. The problems of a mother that made a living out of beating people up. But she was ready to settle this without causing a scene, breathing deeply. For the first time she noticed the other female standing next to the daycare mother. One of those Botox Betty’s, probably becoming rich by marrying the grandfather type. The arrogance was so thick that Elena was certain if she wanted, she could touch it. The woman took a step towards her, taking off those larger than life sunglasses. Mark in this moment tightened his grip.
“If I had known the mother is worse than the kid, I would have called the cops directly. I didn’t know they allow just about everyone in this daycare.”
Much to her own surprise Elena managed to take her focus off of Botox Betty, looking at the female in charge. She pressed Izzy tighter to her body, knowing this would keep her calm. The woman looked very uncomfortable.
“Okay, I am here. So what happened?”
“Izzy and Jeremy were playing outside, you know where we keep the little ducklings and such. I then turned around for a moment to look at one of the other kids, before hearing a scream. When I put my focus back on them, I see Isabella kneeling on Jeremy’s back. Screaming something like: “You need to apologize”. I managed to separate them, but not without Jeremy pushing her and Izzy scratching herself at the nearby tree.”
Elena slowly nodded before looking back at the other mother. She was currently patting the head of her son, mumbling something rather disrespectful. There was slight movement on her arms, Isabella moving her mouth closer to her ear. Whispering.
“Jeremy squeezed one of the ducklings. I told him to stop, but he just squeezed harder. I think the baby duck is hurt, mama.”
It was hard to put in words how much pride Elena felt in this moment. The best thing she created in her life, Isabella, had outgrown all her expectations. Kind hearted and yet so independent. One day she would change the world. Doing better than her parents ever could.
“What can you expect from this kid? Lying right through her teeth. Daughter of someone that gets half naked for work, parading and praising Satan. I will definitely press charges against this. I mean, look at the way she dresses. I saw her on this app, only wearing underwear. Like a cheap slut…”
In the matter of thirty seconds two things happened. One, Elena put Izzy into Marks arms, sending them towards the car. She kissed her daughter gently on the head, whispering sweet nothings. Hearing their footsteps moving away from the scene, she moved closer to Betty. Her focus on the daycare mother though.
“Moira, may you take Jeremy to the inside for a moment. Give him pudding or a good spanking, I don’t care. But his mother and I have something to talk about.”
Elena’s voice was filled with authority, neither of them dared to contradict. Instead they were quick to move out of sight, leaving them on their own. Suddenly the parking lot didn’t appear as huge anymore, for Elena the rest of the world vanished- just this plastic bag of a woman on her mind. She was fully aware that a film of sweat was forming on the female’s forehead. Once again she was mumbling, but she didn’t gather her opposite attention. Elena DeDraca stood there, still and stoic, her mind was racing though.
Inside her head two scenarios were coming to life.
One, she would take one more step forward and grab the bitch by the throat. Giving her the beating of her life, before being taken away by the cops. Probably locked away, going to court and destroying the life she built for herself and those she loved.
Be clever, Elena.
Two, she would take a step forwards and grab the bitch by the throat. Strangling her to death and burying her body behind the house, pulling a Constance Langdon. Having the nicest roses in town.
Both options sounded tempting, while if she were given the chance- she would go for the second one. And if that had been another time, she probably still would. But that was the struggle she had to face. Every mother in this world knew how hard it was to raise a kid, while not losing yourself doing so. Imagine how rough it was when you were the leading champion of a fighting company. But this wasn't sixteen year old Elena that didn’t care about consequences. This was Elena the mother, wife and role model.
I am so screwed.
Either way she took that one step closer, indeed so close that she would smell the woman’s disgusting perfume. It was probably more expensive than the clothes Elena wore right now, but it smelled like cow piss. The fake tan seemed to come off at this very moment. It was delicious. When Elena rolled her shoulders the woman nearly had a heart attack, scared for the obvious. But that never happened. Instead Mark made a reappearance into the picture. Wrapping his arm around his wife's waist. He knew if she snapped, it would be impossible to hold her back- but that didn’t stop him from trying. She moved her head to the side, looking up.
“Is Izzy okay?”
“Yeah, she comes after her momma. Can we go, love?”
Every fibre of her body wanted to protest, but she wouldn’t. Instead she turned around and cuddled into him. They had only taken a few steps as she looked back over her shoulder. This time grinning.
“I might be scum, Betty. But at least I make my own money, right? I don’t have to fuck someone that digusts me to pay for my next pedicure. Or was it him fucking the poolboy? You know, I always get those things confused.”
The woman still didn’t move.
“Either way, I would suggest you take Jeremy and your dry pussy away from here. I have a feeling that you wanna spare yourself another encounter.”
There was no verbal response, but honestly- what was there left to say? Elena and Mark kept walking, never looking back. When they reached the car he opened the door for her. Always the gentleman she thought to herself, but closed the door again.
“Is it one of those moments where you need to be on your own?”
She smiled and nodded. He planted a deep kiss on her lips, looking into her eyes.
“I will meet you guys at home. Tell Izzy we will rescue all the duckies in the world and that I love her.”
She kissed him once more before starting to walk. It was quite the way home, but it didn’t matter. That was her therapy. Walking. No matter the weather or distance. Today Elena DeDraca realised two things. Money doesn’t make you happy. And more importantly, she was the master of her own fate. She could be everything she wanted, picking for herself. The merciless and impulsive she demon inside the ring. But in her private life she was the adult that Izzy needed and deserved. Loving and caring.
After walking for probably fifteen minutes she grabbed her phone, pressing the number one. It took a moment before the other person took her call. A thick Italian accent greeting her.
“Shawna, I have to ask you a favour...”
The expression on Elena’s face was everything but loving and caring. It was treacherous, cold and merciless. Maybe at the end of the day people can change, if they really want. Or, more realistic, they learn to live with their darkest desires. And find a way to give in to them every now and again.
LOW LOVE [MY LOVE WILL ACHE YOUR SOUL]
[Rio de Janeiro, Brazil]
You get what you give.
This statement was more or less true. Or at least it was something that kept people going, believing that there were bigger things waiting. For a long time Elena DeDraca didn’t buy into this. For too many years she had the feeling that she was the one always giving. Or that the universe didn’t give a flying fuck about her or her well being. And maybe that was still the case. But there came a point when she decided to grab the bull by its horns. Or balls? Or whatever clever people said. And right at this point, everything changed. Sure there had been quite some collateral damage on the way, but it was worth it.
If they hadn’t been living in such a chaotic time she would have felt thrilled to be in Rio de Janeiro. A place so colourful that you could discover something new on a daily basis. People that probably didn’t have much, but they lived their life to the limit. Appreciating every little moment of it. Something that the European culture had long forgotten about. Let’s not mention the self proclaimed force called the United States of America. Those living a wealthy life thought of themselves as superiors. But not Elena. Too well did she remember the times when she had nothing, too proud to ask for a helping hand. Even worse, accepting the guidance. To outgrow herself she had to eat a lot of dirt. Which probably was the main reason she felt closer to the people here, than she could ever with her own folks.
What about some Samba lessons?
The thought alone was amusing. A total no go, but this was besides the point. She had to be here to absorb the atmosphere. Getting herself in the mindset of the Fist of Hydra. Despite the company's wish she didn’t stay at the hotel they picked. Something fancy with a few stars in their resume. Instead she found herself a private place to stay, with an eldery couple. They had a spare room. It wasn't anything special, but at least she felt safe. And cut off from the rest of the world. Every evening they would eat something like Feijoada, Moqueca or Acarajé. During the day they were going after their business, giving her privacy. Today was no different when she stood outside in their garden, looking at the colourful flowers. Some of them she couldn’t even pronounce. But one of them was her favourite. Somewhere in between all the bright colours she found a dark, blue flower. Not fitting, yet standing out.
“Sometimes there are so many things to say that I just can’t find the words. I wanna address this and that but then realise it really doesn’t matter. I often find myself surrounded by people that don’t speak the same language. Not in a literal way, but you get the idea. You tell them what you think, but they are so quick going into defensive mode that it is pretty much pointless. Which, much to my dismay, seems to be half the roster of Project Honor. Every show I punish myself to listen to the things people have to say. I sit there trying to hold my eyes open, waiting for that one bright moment, but it never comes. Now I don’t know why that is the case, but my best guess would be- people are lazy. Hand them things and they will never get their ass up doing real work. We have seen it again and again. But who is really to blame? A mediocre competitor that gladly takes the goods, or a company that doesn’t learn from previous mistakes?”
She softly brushed over the pedals of the flower, inhaling the scent. It was strong, alluring and somewhat reminded her of something. For a moment she couldn’t decide what it was, till she remembered all the moments she walked the old graveyards of London. Cemetery flowers. Too sweet.
“Look back at the last episode of Fallout. There you had the queen of taking shortcuts, Kayla Richards. The loudmouth that thinks she is the ruler of this place. And what happened? None of her overused insults brought her the win or a better standing. I am sorry honey, but there is a reason why I am the first pick. But we are drifting off once more. She isn’t the only one that got handed things. Can you guess where I am heading? Shawny- pooh. Despite his great performance since signing with the company, there are some things you can’t erase. Right when he lost to Ozymandias, big balls Johnson comes up and hands him a title match? Why? Where was Johnson when I outperformed people every show I was booked at? Where is my basket of goodies for representing this company like I do? I tell you what all of this is about, bigotry.”
“I am not the number one pick behind closed doors because I don’t lick anyone’s butt. Now one could say Warstein is a rebel himself, but I don’t see it. All I see as of late is him having a constant boner for Kasey. I mean really? It’s not my business who you stalk, but you could be less creepy. On the other hand, someone like her might like exactly that. Didn’t you feel like a real winner making an ass of yourself watching my last match? Maybe it’s just me, but I get the feeling you are not taking this very seriously. If we leave out of sight that you didn’t really earn this shot, it is still your big chance. And maybe under other circumstances this could be your night, Shawn, but I don’t live for what if or but or maybe. I will both spare us going through your latest records, you have been there- and I don't care. Neither of them is me, just like none of my previous opponents are you.”
For just a little longer her fingers remained on the flower. It felt slightly sticky, leaving some sort of pollen on her fingers.
“Some would say we are frenemies. But I don’t agree with them. Not for once have I considered you an enemy. A hard hitter, but that is what I am looking for. But if not the enemy, then you must be a friend? Wrong. That is the way people think, black or white. There is nothing in between. And that is the way that limits most of the human race and stops them from reaching greatness. If anyone, at any time, asked me about Shawn Warstein the answer would be simple. A good fighter. I can respect you for exactly that, but there is nothing beyond that. It is kinda adorable though that some people still think I came here to make friends. What for? I have friends. And just because they are not part of this company, doesn’t mean that I don’t have them. This is work. To a degree it is my life. But when I take off my boots, I walk into a different chapter. The personality might remain the same, but I can just be Elena.”
“I am sorry for crashing anyone’s ideas of us having a little tea party with biscuits. I won’t allow anyone to drag me down. Which once again leads back to you, Shawn. I know how proud you are of having your way with words. I applaud you for that. But what else do you want me to do? Throw you a parade because you won yourself the title Tyrant? You have been riding this horse for quite some time, without ever adding anything to it, so get over it. You could have won Babe of the Year and it would also get old. This is the way this business works and I really thought you knew this by now. But maybe your senses are dimmed. Maybe, and that is just me guessing, you had too many people telling you how great you are. Sure you hold the tag team titles, but that is nothing you achieved on your own. And yes I am aware you have been great in other companies as well, but who asks about that? No one. This is Project Honor. And while both our records are impressive, I would say I kick you in the nuts with mine. No worries, I won’t. Although I could.”
She let out a small giggle, rather untypical for the person that was Elena DeDraca. But obviously the thought itself was giving her the giggles. The sun was standing high, forcing her to find some shadow underneath some old trees.
“When I was younger I was not able to understand how this world works. I kept telling myself that there are things that you can’t change. That there are rules you must obey, even though I had my problems with it. At points I did try and it still didn’t work in my favour. But you Shawn, you just do your thing. You think of yourself as the greatest in this company, even though you might be coy about it at points. I have been able to look into your mind briefly. As some might have forgotten, including you, I gave you your first loss in Project Honor. And if that alone doesn’t sting, it was when we both wanted to qualify for the Legacy title. Now look how that went for me. First and current champion. And pretty much everyone’s mountain to climb at this point. Even back then I could say we showed respect towards each other. Yet you got so much ahead of yourself, thinking that you could do what so many others tried before you. I appreciate your self esteem, wishing more people had it instead of huge egos, but that might remain wishful thinking.”
“There might come a day when this company will be ruled by a tyrant, but that time is not now. I have sacrificed all of myself over and over again. Do you think this was all for nothing? That after I pushed my own family down a cliff, you can overcome me? Not yet. I have watched every match since we met. I don’t see many flaws in your style, but there are still some. Please don’t think that I view myself as flawless. I know there is always something to improve, but at least I don’t give away my weak spots. Shall I present one of yours? Or do we wait till you are ready? To a degree I think that people are meant to have a Messiah complex when being a wrestler. One thinks she is the enforcer of Project Honor, and you? You think you sit on a throne ala Putin, ruling your folk. Let me come clear, Shawn, you got no folk. And no one wants the Sputnik V. Maybe it is me coming from Europe, but I don’t really get all high for Tyrants and dictators. If that is who you think you are, love, then you are definitely in the wrong area of the world. If you want world domination I once more have bad news for you. You are Pinky and never will be Brain.”
Elena stretched almost lazily, the grin still on her face. A cool breeze was coming up, kissing her pale skin.
“I don’t expect my words to hold any value for you, or even reach you. But they are not less true because of that. Somewhere in the back of your mind you know that I have not told a lie. And for the rest of your time in Project Honor I will remain the thorn in your side. The one that ruined your clean record. The one that kept you from becoming the Legacy champion. I didn’t rub your ego back then and I won’t start now. I am fully aware that everyone can beat everyone, but I will go all in for this match. I will bring everything I got and if you’re not willing to do the same, you have no one to blame but yourself. You have seen more than once what I do to those that slack. To those that wanna become famous by using my name a little too much. It might seem like a good idea in the first place, but in the end they will fall victim to my feet. And as you might remember it is not a very pleasant experience. A lesson if you look at it from the right angle, but still nothing you want on repeat.”
“Win or Lose, I always stand tall. I have been through too much to accept defeat at this point. So even though I can accept losing, I do whatever is in my might to work against it. You might not follow my logic or think that I erase the points that I made, but you have to see the whole picture. I have come from injury, retirement and heartbreak to stand here, holding this title high. Fuck what everyone else wants. If they are tired of seeing me succeed, it only motivates me that little more. And sometimes that is what stands between being a good and a great champion. I said that since day one, I stop when I am done and not when I am tired. And that is the thing, Shawn, I am not done yet. I have so much more to give. A lot more to prove to myself and those that linger in the shadows waiting for their chance. Don’t be sad when things don’t fall into place for you, there is always a next time. Another opponent, another title- another story to tell. But in this one, you are not the main role. This is myLegacy. Everyone else might have a guest appearance, but will be left as a footnote.”
She took another step backwards, her whole body covered in shadows by then. The sun was fighting for her attention, but that never happened. Instead Elena covered herself in the very welcoming darkness. Her eyes focusing on the camera.
“You are welcome, Shawn. Sincerely, the thorn in your side.”
