A small, dark gym. It isn't certain where we are, but we can hear heavy breathing. The sound of someone doing some hard work fills the corridors as we approach an open door. We move past punching bags and speedballs and mats and apparatus. After a few seconds, with deep breaths in between, a familiar shrill sort-of-Irish voice belts out...
"Right...I can do this. I know I can do this. "
More heavy breathing. We approach slowly.
"I can't...no- I can! I know it. Keep going, Em- you got this! "
And now we find ourselves entering a changing room. In workout gear with sweat dripping down her head and through her hair, the Union Battleground Trench War Champion herself- Emery Layton- sits cross-legged on a bench, surrounded by boxes and boxes of what appears to be takeaway boxes. Chinese takeaway boxes. Chopsticks everywhere. It absolutely reeks of curry sauce. With chopsticks in her hand, she lifts some noodles up- strenuously, laborious.
EMERY LAYTON:
"You can train all day for a match in Chicago. You can hack it in Japan if you work hard enough, but China's an entirely different kinda animal. I been at this three hours now. I keep wanting to give up, but you can't do that in any walk of life, know what I mean? You gotta stick to it! Now, deep breaths, one more. You got this, Em, you got it. Just... "
She lifts that chopsticks further and it's like an endurance test. Can she do it? Can she put the noodles in. After a tense moment- yes! She does! She breaks off for a moment, wiping her forehead and letting out a breath, as if she'd just run a treadmill. For a day.
"When I was young, I used to have a friend. Never went to school, like, so I just spent a loada days just running off when I was a teen. Ended up meeting these lads outside school after they finished - small, bit quiet and one of them had glasses and braces, but they used to let me talk so that was nice. One of 'em used to invite me to his house, dress me up in his spare uniform so his Ma didn't think he'd just dragged some poor girl off the street - we always used to have Chinese food and watch wrestling. I liked that guy."
Putting the chopsticks and box of Chinese food down, she stops, scratching her nose.
"I got a name- Dolan Farson. He's the guy sending that...guy...to me, tryna dictate how my career goes, like I ain't already been Trench War Champion for a year without him getting involved. But I got a little bit of an idea. Some people would just look at this and go 'oh, I dunno, it's a thing', but I'm smarter than the average elephant and I make these connections and I think someone wants to be That Guy who takes the title off me, and Dolan's giving 'em a hand. But y'know what? I ate an Orange the other day and had to Google it while I was eating it to make sure I actually was eating an Orange so I ain't always bright. Anyway, shush a mo- gotta get some more training in here. So...so... "
With a big bit of sweet and sour chicken on her chopstick, she lifts it into her mouth and places it in. Scrunching her face up, she chews slowly. Tears are nearly in her eyes. But then, finally...she swallows, nodding with determination.
"Ugh.
It loses it's taste after a while! Stops being lovely, delicious chicken chow mein and just ends up becoming stuff with bits in it. Not even curry sauce is enough to help you along. But you gotta push through. If you wanna visit a country, you gotta learn howta live by their rules. That's what being a Traveller is- throwing yourself head-first into new people and places. Ain't gonna lie- it's tough. But sometimes, you throw yourself into it all and it catches up with you.
Know who knows all about that? Cos I know, and you know too. Trixie knows. Trixie knows all about travelling round with a title on her shoulder. A while ago, Kimitsu Zombie said the Trench War title had become the "Emery Layton Championship", but Kim forgot all about Trixie and her Trixie Championship. Ain't nobody been able to take it from her no matter where she went. I like that! Trix and I been wrestling in the same bubble since...oh, since I broke into the US last year. One of the first people to come chat to me was Trixie- super nice and sweet while I was tryna be tough and grumpy. It's hanging round with people like her that made me realise I could be myself. I didn't have to be Scrappy Doo, I could be me and still dropkick people into another world. "
Chopsticks back down. Now, she throws all of the empty boxes to the side and lifts out something that's always been there- the Trench War title. Placing it proudly on her shoulder, Emery dusts it off and picks up a bit of egg-fried rice that's stuck to the centre plate from the food. Shrugging, she eats it. She's not arsed. Don't act like you wouldn't if no one was looking.
"But Trix, here's the deal- I know how good you are. There's nothing I love more than to face people who I'm friends with, cos I feel like we should all be tryna be, like, better, yknow? Working together to make this sport the best it can be without all of the gee-bags that ruin it *cough* Dolan *cough*. But just cos I think that don't mean I'mma let you take this away from me so easy. I'm meeting you on the 23rd February. Know what that means? Five days after, if I still got this, I'm gonna have held the Trench War title for a FULL year. Think how much you seen during that time- through it all, I've been polishing this thing off and pushing away anybody who's been tryna ruin it's shine. Think you got it in you take it off me, Trix? The Trench War Traveller don't mess around. I made this title the most must-chase championship in the entire Battleground Network. I got people sending mercinaries after me to try and take it off me or keep it on me or...whatever they're doing. Reckon you got more in you than that? Let's go see, Trixie.
It's gonna be a big night in Shanghai, but there ain't gonna be no karate kicks guy and the dude who says 'wow' here...just this dirty, no-good Pavee and a shiny, shiny belt. "
She claps her hands back together, a smile on her face.
"Now...back to dinner. Sorry- I'm so daft. I meant training.
Despite the newfound winning streak that would have anyone in high spirits, four straight wins in a week, Trixie looked down into her hot chocolate hoping the swirl would morph into the answer or something comforting.
TRIXIE: Emery has just been on fire, the slump continued with me and I lost yet another start of the year tournament...I told people I could avoid Kassidy’s top rope move, I feel like such a liar…
She curls half her lip up in slight disgust at herself for not following through, avoiding the move and superkicking Flash Kassidy’s eyeballs out of his head, it was so easy to do, she was disappointed she just couldn’t.
BRAD ARCHER: Hey!
The scrawny guy opposite her chimes in. Black hair, a work shirt on with jeans and black slip ons.
BRAD ARCHER: You have your wins, you have them losses sometimes. I bet you’re angry, right?
TRIXIE: At myself, mainly.
BRAD ARCHER: And you can add that anger at yourself, pack it up into that match and use it. Use it good. Take it out on this lass.
TRIXIE: She’s my friend, I’ve only done that against Anton in Union.
She folds her arms, reluctant to hit her friend. Brad snaps his fingers to keep her attention.
BRAD ARCHER: And you bloody won in the end!
She couldn’t deny that fact.
BRAD ARCHER: Do you want to be Trench War champion or whatever the name is?
TRIXIE: No, you got it right. And I do. I wanted to ever since I won the fatal four way.
BRAD ARCHER: You are one of the solid hitters. I mean, now, between you and me, I go out with you for the protection. You remember how you judo threw that arsehole?
Brad’s reminder of Trixie and his time out, how she used the man’s size and momentum against him, something she’d definitely use against Em. The nostalgia mader her smile.
BRAD ARCHER: He nearly had his hip out, I think science tells us that will do even more damage to Emery, size and all that.
Not exactly a scientist, but he did make Trixie feel like she could strap a counter and turn the tide.
TRIXIE: I guess you’re right. Plus I doubt Emery, as far as I’ve seen, has ever been in the ring with a girl who can superkick her ankle out of place, or wind her with one just as easily and swiftly by ducking a clothesline.
She sips her chocolate, since she was warming up to both it and the title match.
TRIXIE: But she’s been so hard to defeat. Loads of people have tried. Zombie beat me and couldn’t knock of Em-
Brad sensed Trixie was trying to put herself down again.
BRAD ARCHER: I don’t believe it’s like that. Try rock, paper, scissors. Kim may have beaten you, scissors beats paper. Rock beat scissors and now, on that show, you’ll cover rock and win the title.
Trixie couldn’t help but smile at the nice way to put it. She
TRIXIE (SLIGHTLY WHISPERED): I guess the others weren’t Trixie.
He clapped his hands as he knew he had her.
BRAD ARCHER: Yeah, the girl who wouldn’t quit and won her title back. The girl who’s sexy neckbreaker is #Unkickoutable!
He quotes Trixie’s finisher in EWC Prime, the one quick finish she recently used to win her match, win her Indy Title last year.
TRIXIE: The hottie who ended Chloe’s run in Union.
BRAD ARCHER: Setbacks can too rightly F off when it comes to her. She can turn things around, in the club, in the ring, she always walks out with something good on her arm.
She was enjoying her single life, with a cheerful smile and a tap on his shin with her foot.
TRIXIE: Thank you.
She says as he rubs his shin, she appreciated the cheerleading help as her phone buzzed and she saw the text from a Union Battleground competitor asking her out.
TRIXIE: And I think I could have some arm candy and title candy.
(OOC Sorry for missing the show, I thought it was next week and I wanted to post what I had to not no show.)
