Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2023 7:33:39 GMT -5
{OFF CAMERA}
Benson Estate
Office Suite
Sonya twirled the pen between her fingers as a coping mechanism while her sunken eyes burned from lost sleep thanks to Punisher’s actions at WCR.
“Regina’s ready, Sonya. Splitting image of you and of course she’s got those strikes and those grapples. *chef’s kiss* You know this. It was your idea, you genius you! You’ve won. Eleven more wins. Regina’s got this even if it takes another year to collect those victories. All you gotta do now is sit back and let her do the rest. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy!”
In a blur, Benson slammed the pen down across the desk.
“Big Pun’s thrown a wrench in all this, in case you’ve forgotten.” She seethed.
Norris scoffed and downed a bit of his Scotch on the rocks.
“So? Regina will get the brunt. It’s what doppelgangers do..”
Sonya stood up and for the first time in a long time, she felt uncomfortable in her classy pantsuit. Norris was right and she knew it. Even so, something didn’t feel right.
“Sure.” She replied flatly. “I still think I should compete just to flip the script in person if Pun-”
”Nuh-uh.”
Portly old Norris pulled a bigger gulp of his beverage and wasn’t having her shit today.
”Not happening. You promised me and Regina that from now on it’s her in there not you. Remember? She should’ve been in the ladder match which, by the way, you were about to lose had Lexi not intervened on your behalf.”
The Rich Bitch shoved his Lexi remark aside and paced.
“You don’t think I can defeat Addison?”
Norris bellowed an insulting laugh.
“Hell no. Her mentor was too chicken to wrestle her because he knew she’d embarrass him, and she just beat the brakes off Atara.”
“So? I beat Atara too. I defeated her and Shay in a handicap match for chrissakes.”
“Did you really beat Atara though?”
“My hand got raised didn’t it?”
“You won but you didn’t beat Atara. That girl Addison, she stapled Atara’s shoulders to the mat. She’s got that dog in her, as the cool kids say.”
Sonya’s pacing quickened. Her “wise man” had made another good point and she didn’t like it one damn bit.
“Okay? So? Addison’s reckless though. We can bait her, trick her, just like we’ve been doing for over a year. She went for a Shooting Star Press 30 seconds into the match. Like, LOLWUT?”
“And she nailed it.”
“And then she got countered when she tried to pin her.”
“And then she escaped it. She had a counter for everything Atara threw at her.”
“And Atara had an answer for those counters.”
“Until she didn’t. By the way, you’re not Atara. You think you can keep up with her like Atara did?”
She flopped back into her chair without rebuttal. Seizing his moment, Norris eased forward and did his best Duke Evers to Sonya’s Apollo Creed.
“Addison’s all wrong for us, baby-girl. She’s a 2nd generation talent and has had god-tier training from Uncle Mike, and her dear old dad is gonna be all up in mine and Smith’s asses every time we try to make something happen for you when you’re getting your head dribbled across the mat. She’s unpredictable. Zooms around like a damn spider monkey. Regina’s the play here. 100%. She’s the nuclear option. Addison’s expecting those dainty little slaps you like to pelt opponent’s with, not instant death that’s in Regina’s eight friggin limbs.”
Norris hadn’t steered her wrong thus far. The more she mulled it over, the more she admonished herself with a head shake. How did she let herself get invested in the ring when she spent the last year trying to avoid it at all costs? Norris was absolutely correct.
”You’re right. Things have just been….crazy. Let’s do it. Rise of the doppelganger! Let’s pull the trigger on it.”
He bolted from his chair with cheer and a fist pump.
”I knew you’d come to your senses. It’s normal to get wrapped up in personal issues. It's easy street from now on! Nothing’s changed with the plan. Regina will go to the ring and pretend to be green like you. She’ll fumble holds. She’ll act like she’s more hurt than she is when taking shots. She’ll run around playing the coward card. Same Sonya schtick. Then when Addison’s guard is down, wham bam thank ya ma’am… BITCH TRIGGER…”
He shot a knee into the air with theatrics and somehow hurt himself a little bit.
”Easy, tiger. Regina’s been cooped up too long anyway. Feels like I’ve treated her like an animal in a cage or something.”
”You’ve also spent a shitload of money on her, so it’s best not to throw that cash away.”
Her cell rang and she answered.
”SURPRISE MOTHERFUCEKR!”
Her tummy roiled. It’s Punisher. She shot to a stand and put in on speaker so Norris could hear.
”You cost me the big belt so that’s gonna cost you, bitch. Don’t say a fucking word. As shareowner of your contract I hereby demand you un-ass yourself from wherever you are and head to Vegas. It’s a holiday weekend. Some guy did some civil rights shit and got a holiday out of it. WGWF has a Fan Access thing going on and I’ve made you a special attraction in it.”
Sonya gasped.
”You can’t be se-”
”SHUT UP AND LISTEN BITCH!”
She clutched her chest.
”I’ve set up a kissing booth so those shitstain fans can kiss your pretty lips, if they pay the fee I’ve set of course. After that you’ll head over to the make-up booth where fans will doodle your perfect face any way they want, and take pics with you afterward. They might even give you a haircut too. From there we’ll have you put up in a dunking tank, and with any luck you’ll freeze to death. I’m putting you in new attire also. You won’t be walking around there in your professional pantsuit. You’re trash and will dress as such.”
The psychopath had her speechless.
*click*
The call abruptly ended. Additional info was sent via google maps as she stood petrified.
”I’ll round up Regina.”
”No.” She snapped out of it. ”I won’t subject her to this madman. Her deal pertains strictly to in-ring. She might bail if we throw her to him.”
Norris threw his hands up in exasperation, but she had a point.
{ON CAMERA}
Sonya’s down but not out. As early-bird fans trickle into the Fan Access event looking to buy their favorite wrestler’s merchandise from the booths, they find them all empty, with sellers directing them to the eastern lot.
When they arrive they find Sonya sitting atop a mountain of items they intended to purchase, and she’s got a megaphone.
”I bought all the stuff so you grease pellets can’t have them. If I can’t have what I want, neither can you and that split-tail Addison Andrews come Brawl.”
And she’s conveniently brought WGWF’s film crew to shoot her obligatory vignette. She angles herself toward the camera.
”Addison, most wrestlers who say they always wanted to be a wrestler usually never elaborate past that, but you did. You want to overshadow your dad. Selfish but at least you’re honest. I bet you’re tickled pink about this shot. You think the pressure is all on me with Punisher’s chicanery. It isn’t though. Pressure’s on you. There’s a race going on. Mike Angelo’s daughter trained in the same school as you and she won the IIW Women’s Title in her first PPV. You gotta get this one for the Andrews name on your first at-bat.”
She slides down the pile.
”You don’t wanna let down your dad, right? Speaking of, I’m not usually jealous of anyone, but I’ll admit, I’m jealous of you. The journey you’ve had in wrestling was cultivated with care by Uncle Mike. You knew the ins and outs before you had your first match on the Chicago circuit. I got thrown into the fire without a lick of training. I had to survive on my cunning alone. You have a dad who supports you. I dunno if Uncle Mike is right when he says it’s an act, but disingenuous support is better than no support, and my dad has been cruel beyond measure. No support. None. WHAT ABOUT ME! WHAT ABOUT SONYA! WHAT ABOUT ME!”
The gathering jeers her bratty outburst.
”Something happened to me in that ladder match, Addison. It was the first time I felt happy in the ring. It was the only time I’ve ever wanted to be in that ring. It wasn’t because I won some frivolous gold trinket. It was the energy, the emotion from my opponents, the fans, the wrestling world at large. Their torment was palatable and god did I enjoy that! I secured the moniker of Ruiner of Dreams in the aftermath. I like it. I might even trademark it. What happened that night was addictive and Addison? I need another fix.”
Her entourage emerge and pour gasoline on the mound of items.
”You’re perfect for it. The fans like you and you’re motivated for family and yourself. You’re riding high after beating a Betty Badass of this heathen sport. Your dad’s a ring veteran who knows how to neutralize outside influences. You’ve cut your teeth on the Chicago trail for a few years and you’ve faced all manner of opponents. Perhaps most of all, you know I don’t control my narrative anymore. Punisher does.”
She casts a soured countenance for a second.
”So your dreams for the TV title are perfect for the ruining because you have everything you can possibly need to usurp me. The Devil’s in the details, though, you see. Punisher wants to beat me for the Television Title. He demanded the match. He has shared-control of my contract and championship now. Big Pun can’t beat me for the title if I’m not champion.”
Taps her temple.
”He’ll do everything he can to keep me as champion until he alone puts me down. Me being champion is a prerequisite for it. This kinda-sorta means you can’t be champion. Amirite or amirite? There’s something else you should think about… I don’t have a fraction of your skill but have defeated adversaries more credentialed than you, sometimes finishing them with their own maneuvers. How do you prepare for that? Can you?”
Her crew sets the mountain of merchandise on fire, causing commotion among the people.
”I’m your Gordian Knot, but you’re no Alexander the Great. I’m the Sword of Damocles over your head Monday. How fitting of a day it will be too. America will be paying homage to MLK, a man who, much like me, was persecuted by many for a righteous crusade. I'm the female MLK in this spectrum. In the end he won, as will I. For you though, it won’t be the beginning of the end… it’ll be the end of the beginning.``
Suddenly, Punisher pushes his way through the masses with the TV Title over shoulder. Sonya’s visibly shaken but puffs-up when Norris and Smith come to her side. He carries two articles of clothing for her - a shirt way too small for her that reads “Property of Punisher” and a pair of insanely small Daisy Duke shorts. Big Pun grins evilly and tosses them to her.
”Your new attire. Get dressed and go to the kissing booth. NOW!”
Sonya GLARES at him like……
Nobody knows what happens next because the camera batteries die thanks to laziness on the operator’s part. Or in fourth-wall jargon, I ran out of words.