Post by angelicavaughn on Jun 26, 2021 19:05:42 GMT -5
The STA Ranch
Inside Angie’s house...
Inside Angie’s house...
“Juuuuust whistle while you work.”
*♫♫♪♪♫*
The leggy blonde of legend was going round the house with a feather duster, giving her cupboards and cases a proper cleaning. As she wiped the top of a bookcase filled with the Fables graphic novels, a cloud of dust covered her face.
“Ewww, darn i… *cough*cough* it!”
She held her breath and wiped the dust out of her eyes. After a few seconds she could open them again, and found herself standing in front of her trophy cabinet, which was as treasured, maybe even more so, than her wardrobe.
No matter how many times she looked at it, she couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. All of her hard work, all of the blood sweat and tears were solidified and represented in this glass case. Her UGWC World Championships, like the one she won off of Alan Wallace. The Chaos title she won from Bordy. The first ever Conquest Championship… But at the very beginning, there had been the Co-op Championship. The one she’d held with Roxy, when the #CoolKids were just getting started in the Coalition.
She opened the cabinet and took the title out. Of course, it was no longer a legitimate title, it was a symbol… A memento, nothing more. But those things still held value.
Angie had been over the moon as of late. Getting to spend time with Roxy, and tagging alongside her in the ring again, has been like a God’s gift. Roxy had always been fun to be around, even though, or maybe because of the fact they were so different in so many ways. Roxy had taught her so much about the world, and even though she could be rude, brash and abrasive she was also one of the most caring people she’d ever met… a notion most who didn’t know her would probably scoff at. But that was only because Roxy so good at putting up façades. Angie knew she loved her friend, and she’d do anything for her. And there was nobody she’d rather have by her side at Battleground in order to add some gold to this trophy cabinet. Incendium were two tough customers, but they were also the team that she and Rox had already beaten for a title, all that time ago. That was obviously no longer relevant now, but it still instilled some confidence in her.
She felt her cats starting to twirl around her legs, and she rolled her eyes.
”Sers, sers? You kitties got a treat not half an hour ago! Let me reminisce for a bit, please?”
But as per usual, sers Bobby and Alex paid her request with no heed. She found herself growing a little annoyed. She loved her little furbabies, but she was handling something delicate, and she didn’t want to…
*TRIP*
Angelica tried to put the title back, but accidentally tripped over ser Bobby, causing her foot to land on Ser Alex’s tail. The Scottish Fold shrieked and flew a yard into the air before crashing into the cabinet. Ser Bobby, upset by the cries of his friend, darted off, also crashing into the trophy cabinet, and…
“OH NOES!”
The glass cabinet toppled over, and as the two cats sprinted off to safety, it crashed and sent shards and shelves and titles clattering all over the floor.
“BOBBY! ALEX! THAT’S A BAAAD KITTY! BAAAAAAAAAD KITTY!”
Angelica screamed, before trying to recollect herself. She was surrounded by broken glass, and she noticed how some of the bigger shards had scratched the leather straps and centerpieces of her accomplishments. She balled her hands into fists and grit her teeth.
“Now look!”
She sighed and got down to her knees. She wanted to give her kitties a proper spanking, but immediately felt guilty about it. After all, they were such darlings. How could she be mad at them? After all, her own clumsiness caused her to trip, and her own big feet caused her to step on ser Alex’ tail. But still, she HAD told them to knock it off… She picked up a shard of glass, and a defaced title belt… Sitting on her knees, she looked up at the ceiling and broke out into song.
“Guess mine is not the first case broken
My mouth is not the first to sigh
I'm not the first to knooooow
There's just no potty-training you…
I know I'm just a cat-mom who's willing
To sit around and clean up after you
But kitties, can't you see there's nothing else for me to do?
I'm hopelessly devoted to you
But now I’m fuuuming inside!
Since you pushed my titles aside
Since you’re always so well fed
Hopelessly devoted to you
Hopelessly devoted to you
Hopelessly devoted to you
My head is sayin', "Ang, forget them"
My heart is sayin', "Need cuddles now!
Shower them with love", that's what I intend to do
I'm hopelessly devoted to you
But now I’m fuuuming inside!
These titles hold all of my pride!
But I’ll keep you well fed!
Hopelessly devoted to you
Hopelessly devoted to you
Hopelessly devoted to you…”
Angelica got back up to her feet, and noticed her phone was going haywire.
“Wh-? Oops! Rox texted me like, whoa TWICE?? Best respond…”
----------------------------------------------------------
The Pink Palisades
Inside Roxy’s bedroom…
Inside Roxy’s bedroom…
Roxy Cotton finds herself waiting for Angie to text her back. Usually by now she’s received a half dozen pics of her kittens doing various things, but she’s been unusually quiet.
Roxy feels a little nervous about it and does the unthinkable… she sends a SECOND text even though she was the one who texted FIRST. Even though Roxy is first all the time, it still feels icky to double-text like that… it’s what desperate creepers do, not bombshell entertainment champions, you know?
Roxy started pacing around her room, anxiously checking her cell every few seconds even though it hasn’t chimed or vibrated at all other than the occasional alert that someone new had subscribed to her Fans page. That was so common it was basically a lullaby at this point, something she didn’t even notice in the background of her daily life.
She decided she really should post something new, though, since the tips always came in quick for her little teases.
“Hmmm…”
Roxy looks through her closet, trying to distract herself from Angelica’s delinquent reply.
“Oh! Tight black leggings? A sexy peekaboo top to shoff my shoulders? I’ll look just like Olivia Newton-John! Or even better,Michelle Pfeiffer. Well, Michelle can wait for next time… like a sequel, maybe.”
She had to admit, the drag racing from last week’s Synergy prep had left something of an urge inside of her. She’d been thinking of leather jackets, hair full of pomade, and poodle skirts ever since. It was such an appealing scenario… soda floats and big, roaring engines, and all that swing dancing… it was enough to make any girl swoon, really.
Vinnie was extra preoccupied lately, though, and he didn’t seem interested in taking her out anytime soon. Although she’d considered hitting up a club by herself, she just didn’t feel like dancing with any other boring men. Even if they looked like James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause.
Rox didn’t want to dance alone, and she didn’t want to dance with randos in some tacky Los Angeles club… she wanted Vinnie. In fact, it felt like she’d never wanted him more than she had recently. Through all of their various arguments and differences, Vinnie was ALWAYS there for her and ALWAYS looking out for her best interests. He’d gotten her to go back into the ring even though it was something that, in her head, Roxy had built up as an insurmountable task.
She remembered all too well how much work and time she’d dedicated to the Coalition in 2019. How she’d pushed her body farther and farther every time until it was just too much for her and she got hurt. Ironically, she got hurt in the same match she won the highest prize there was in the company - becoming the first and only performer to ever hold all three singles titles at the same time at Grand Slam.
She wasn’t the same after that. Even though she was as naturally gifted and athletic as ever, the damage to her ankle made her lose a step. She wasn’t able to be the kind of champion that Angie had been. The kind that Sarah was after her. After all the work she’d done, after all the sacrifices she’d made, she got exactly where she wanted to be… and then immediately fell down.
Roxy remembered the tailspin her run ended with. Losing to Donovan at Horizons. Losing to Phrixus in the Coalition Challenge at Infinity. She knew that if she were a hundred percent, those things would never happen in a million years… but they DID happen. The last images the fans of the Coalition saw of Roxy Cotton were her losing over and over and over again, and not to the greats, either. Just the same losers she’d spent a year embarrassing on the way up.
When Kenzi asked her to take a shot at the Cooperative Titles at 2020’s No Holds Barred, she knew it was a mistake. She knew she was going to go into a ring after spending months without training, months without rehabbing,. And months just sulking at what her legacy had turned out to be… but she also knew she could never say no to Kenzi Grey. Of course, what happened was exactly what she expected to happen. Roxy underwhelmed. She let Kenzi down.
Now things were different, though. She was better. She KNEW she was better. She no longer had the fear in the back of her head every time that she threw a kick or or climbed on top of the ring ropes that her ankle might give out on her. The physical therapy and essential oils had WORKED. Vinnie was right when he sent her into that weird jungle wrestling experiment… she’d gone there and done extremely well, very nearly winning the top prize. Her ankle hadn’t been an issue, it held up in matches against people who did everything they could think of to hurt her. Rowen Kito was a vicious opponent who would have injured her on purpose if she’d been able to. Molly Barnes didn’t take it easy on her either, pushing Roxy to her limits and beyond. But the ankle held up, and Roxy won.
And then… well, Angie had made a comment about missing the fun they’d all had as a team in UGWC. When they’d run rampant over the competition and chased the alleged “best” right out off of the roster. Lucy Wylde and Maggie Lockheart disappeared in smoke, and Eden Morgan literally faked her death, just to get away from all the CARNAGE the #CoolKids were wreaking on a weekly basis on Synergy.
Angie was right. Roxy missed it too. She just didn’t KNOW she missed it until she allowed herself to think about it. And when Roxy asked Vinnie if he thought she could still win the Cooperative Titles with Angie like they had back in 2018? He just smiled, kissed her, and told her she could do anything she set her mind to. Because that’s ALWAYS what he believed… it was just up to Roxy to believe it herself.
So she decided to.
*VAUGHNEMOUS!!!*
“OMG!”
The ringtone for Angie always caught Roxy off guard. It seemed to play at full volume no matter what Roxy set it at, somehow.
Roxy checked her phone and smiled. She never should have worried… she knew Angie was always, always, always going to show up and do her best when they teamed together. Especially when titles were on the line.
This time, Roxy was going to do what she hadn’t done with the Coalition Championship. What she hadn’t done for Angie the first time they’d won the Cooperative Championships. She was going to not only WIN the gold… but she was going to KEEP it and DEFEND it.
Because Angie mattered.
Roxy sent a reply text and set her phone on her bed, then placed a thick pillow on top of it. She knew she was going to get all those cat pictures that Angie was behind on sending.
vaughnemous!!!
vaughnemous!!!
vaughnemous!!!
vaughnemous!!!
“Sigh. Never change, bb. Oh! But *I* should definitely change… I need to get in the right frame of mind for Battleground. Me and Angie are going to dog walk Eden and Baal… I can just feel it. Hmmm…”
A beat started to play in Roxy’s head. She started tapping her foot and humming along to the rhythm.
“Battleground and we got us a match
Battleground for the Co-Titles, natch.
Fight a girl, who used to be dead…
And a boy who’s great in his head…”
Roxy started skipping around her room, placing clothes out to try on and singing along to the song in her mind.
“Battleground, coming around, to uh-oh, to the new Co-op Champs…”
That’s when Vinnie Lane popped his head into the room to help out.
“Well-a well-a well-a OOH!
Tell me more, tell me more, does Incendium suck?
Tell me more, tell me more, why should we give a fuck?”
“Eden Morgan, more tits than brains…
Eden Morgan, always the same…
Entitled bitch, always in my way
And she’s like thirty, too old anyway.
Battleground, soon to be found, are the uh oh, new Co-op Chaaaaaaamps…”
“Well-a well-a well-a OOH!
Tell me more, tell me more, why is Eden such shit?
Tell me more, tell me more, she gained weight and her clothes just don’t fit!”
Vinnie and Roxy sang together, doing little swing dance do-si-do’s around the room.
“Shooda-bop bop”
“Shooda-bop bop”
“Shooda-bop bop”
“Shooda-bop bop”
“Gabriel Baal, needs Eden as a crutch
Gabriel Baal, alone he’s not much.
Poor little Gabe, old to the scene.
All he is, is Eden’s cuckquean.
Battleground, do you hear the sound? It’s uh-oh, those new Co-op Champs…”
“Well-a well-a well-a OOH!
Tell me more, tell me more, haven’t you heard the news?
Tell me more, tell me more, Incedium’s gonna lose.”
“Shooda-bop bop”
“Shooda-bop bop”
“Shooda-bop bop”
“Shooda-bop bop”
“Shooda-bop bop”
“Shooda-bop bop”
“Shooda-bop bop”
“Shooda-bop bop - Yeahhhhhhh!”
Roxy slowed the tempo down, looking wistfully into her mirror as Vinnie stood behind her with his hands on her shoulders.
“Incendium, it’s sad but it’s true…
Incendium, wouldn’t want to be you…
What’ll happen without your gold?
In with the new, out with the old…
Battleground… no more messing around…”
They looked into one another’s eyes, and sang in harmony.
“Time for… oh… new Co-ooooooop”
Deep breath. You know what’s coming next. Roxy opens her mouth wide for the high note as Vinnie drops to his knees and gives it all that he’s got.
“CHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMPS!”
Roxy gives her man a deep kiss, and he looks at her with pride in his eyes… But also sadness. He seems on the verge of saying something to her, but then he stops himself and simply stands up and heads for the door.
“You’re gonna do great, babe. I know it.”
Vinnie then leaves the room and Roxy is left to puzzle over why he had been so tense lately.
She shrugs and then turns away, reaching behind her to unzip the back of her dress. It falls from her shoulders and the scene fades away as she turns back around...
----------------------------------------------------------
San Antonio Community College
The gymnasium
The gymnasium
The wrestling ring had been installed in the school’s gymnasium. Plenty of other students were also present, some of them working on the rings or horse, and there were even some Greco-Roman wrestlers doing their … weird...wrestling….thing… on some kind of circular mat, which Angie didn’t understand the point of. How could you do proper wrestling without proper ropes, right?
She had already changed into her training gear, but was still waiting for Roxy to show up. In spite of their recent successes, they would be fools to think they could just walk into Battleground without any kind of decent preparation and training. Incendium were nothing if not formidable, and the fact that Baal was already involved in another grueling match on the same night was in no shape, way or form an excuse for them to take the challenge of beating them lightly. So Angelica had made some arrangements with the dean, who had set up a wrestling ring in the school’s gym. Angie was expecting the ring posts’ sturdiness, having no choice but to listen to him blabber on and on.
“So you see, Miss Vaughn, I hope you understand the MASSIVE favor I’m doing for you, letting you and Miss Cotton use our gymnasium AND our old wrestling ring for training purposes. Usually we have a very strict STUDENTS ONLY policy. MAYBE Miss Cotton could be convinced to enroll in some classes here? I’m sure there is something that would pique her interest.”
Angelica couldn’t help but giggle.
“Look, sir, I’d be happy to ask her, but I’m afraid she’ll look at me like I just dropped a dookie on her favorite rug.”
The dean pulled up his nose.
“Ew.”
“Precisely. Community College isn’t her thing. She probably doesn’t even see this as a proper school, even though we TOTES beat all of the TIffanies in our battle of the bands a while back. But don’t worry, I owe you one, that’s for sure. It’s just that all of my barns at the farm are occupied at the moment as we’re installing our brewery on the outskirts. So I really do appreciate this.”
The dean nodded, somewhat satisfied, and went over to Coach Calhoun to check up on how preparations for the next football game were going. As Angie completed her inspection of the ring, she also nodded, somewhat satisfied, and looked over at the door as it creaked open. It was a heavy metal door that required a lot of effort to open, and a visibly annoyed Roxy entered the gym.
“Ew, that handle was STICKY!”
“ROXY! OVER HERE!”
Angelica waved at her friend, before running over to her with arms spread wide.
“I MISSED YOU SO MUUUUUUCH!”
Roxy got in a defensive stance and held up both her fists, ready to engage in combat if need be.
“Not today, bb! My ribs are still bruised from the last hug! It HURTS, Angie!”
“But… but…”
“Do you really want me to crack a rib before our Co-op title match?”
Angie put a finger on her bottom lip and raised an eyebrow.
“Hmmm, I guess not. Although I think you’re exaggerating a bit.”
“Exaggerating? If you were to hug our opponents the way you hug your friends, you wouldn’t NEED to stick your hand down their throats to get them to pass out.”
“Gee, ya think? But… my hugs are so powerful because they’re fueled by friendship!”
Roxy rolled her eyes.
“Whatever, bb. So, are we training here? Good thing I got my tetanus shot.”
“Oh come on, it’s not that bad. ...EEK!”
Angie screamed as a mouse ran from underneath the apron towards the exit. Roxy frowned.
“Not that bad? MMhmmm.”
“Okay fine, it’s not the BEST! But it’ll do the job. So, I guess you still need to get changed?”
Angelica put her hands on her hips, looking at her friend who was still squeezed into a tight purple dress and walking on impossibly high heels.
“Sure. Later. But first…”
Roxy grabbed Angelica by the hand and guided her over to the ring. She leaned against the apron and looked Angie in the eyes.
“Look, bb. I just wanted to… thank you… ugh, I can’t believe I said that… for being there for me, you know? You’re…. a… good… friend.”
Roxy was having difficulty swallowing her pride to utter those words, but they were heartfelt. Angelica felt tears welling up in her eyes.
Exactly three seconds later, she ugly-cried.
“ROOOOOOOOX!”
Angie spread her arms out.
“NO HUGGING!”
Roxy was ready to drop down in a defensive cocoon position, but Angelica managed to restrain herself.
“*sob* Fine, but you’re NOT making this easy for me.”
Angie grabbed a piece of apron and wiped some tears off before blowing her nose in it. A couple of yards away, the dean cringed, realizing the cost of the dry cleaning bill that was sure to follow.
Rox reassured Angie by putting a hand on her shoulder, reaching up to do so.
“We beat them once, and we can do it again. We’ve only gotten better while they’ve been the same-old same-old. Trust me.”
“Oh, I trust you, Rox.”
Angie snapped her fingers.
“Hey, you know what? Now that we’re facing Baal and Eden, and they got a new name… I feel like we kind of need a new name too.”
“What are you talking about, bb? We’re the #CoolKids.”
“Well yeah, but like… The #CoolKids, that’s You, me, Kenz and Sar, right? You and Sar were the #BullySisters…”
“RIP.”
Angie looked disapprovingly at Roxy.
“Sar and Kenz are the 5’2 Mafia.”
“RIP.”
Another look of disapproval.
“Sar and I are Team HSU.”
“RIP.”
“Will you stop it?? She's NOT dead! All I’m saying is, I know you don’t like the #RoxAng name, because it reminds you too much of your REAL name.”
“My OLD name is NOT Roxanne, and that is NOT the reason. Stop trying to deadname me, bb!”
“Whatevz! Personally, I think we should go by something that’s electrifying, yet cool. Something thrilling, and fast, and yet totes amazeballz. I think we should be… Cool Lightning!”
“Cool… Lightning?”
“Sure! You don’t sound convinced?”
It was more of a statement than a question, regardless of Angie’s tone of voice. But Angelica tapped Roxy on the bust.
“If we want to beat Incendium… If we want to beat Edie and Baal…? We need this. Listen to this. You’ll be… convinced.”
Angelica hopped up on the apron. The lights in the gym went dark, save for a single spotlight that was focused on her.
“See, this Baal is enigmatic. He's problematic! He’s…. soooooooo dramatic!
But, here’s Cool Lightning!
We'll get some back body drops and four figure leg locks in
(Keep talking, woah, keep talking)
A northern lights suplex and pigeonwing submissions, oh yeah
(I'll put the work in, I swear I’ll put the work in)
With his body on the floor, he’ll be waiting for some more
You know that I can kick it, he’ll be getting his head split, by Cool Lightnin'
Go go go, go go go go go go go go
Go, Cool Lightnin', you're gunning for the Co-op belts!
(Cool Lightnin', go, Cool Lightnin')
Go, Cool Lightnin', you're coasting through the Co-op ranks
(Cool Lightnin', go, Cool Lightnin')
You are supreme, the fans will scream, for Cool Lightnin'
Go go go, go go go go go go go go
We'll do some wheelbarrow busters and thirty chest slaps, oh yeah
We’ll cut the ring in half and make you feel our wrath, oh yeah
With my loaded boots and socks, you can call me goldilocks!
You know that I ain't braggin', we are just that good at taggin’
Cool Lightnin'
Go, Cool Lightnin', you’ve got such a pearly smile!
(Cool Lightnin', Go, Cool Lightnin')
Go, Cool Lightnin', you’ll win with all your brawn and guile!
You are supreme, the fans will scream, for Cool Lightninnnnn'”
Angelica got off the ring and the whole gymnasium applauded. She took a bow, and Roxy smiled.
“Cool Lightnin’ it is, bb.”
“Whoop! Knew it was a great idea! Hey, while you go get changed, let me run out real quick and go get our Kappa Alpha Taus to cheer us on! Rita, Pamela and Sandra said they wanted to see you again. They can hang out with us the rest of the day!”
Roxy sighed. She would’ve preferred more one-on-one time with Angie for the rest of the day, but she knew Angelica still cared about things like camaraderie.
“That’s fine, bb.”
“Be back in a jiffy!”
----------------------------------------------------------
Roxy was in high spirits after having such a fun time team building with Angie. She could nearly TASTE the Cooperative Title victory they were heading for at Battleground.
Walking into a hallway in one of the various wings of the college, Roxy’s heels echoed down the corridor in an upbeat, chipper pattern. She looked AMAZING in her 50’s outfit - amazing enough that she didn’t even feel silly next to Angie in her gigantic pink poodle skirt that had kittens on it for some reason instead of poodles.
Rox was feeling as good as she’d felt in ages.
“Hey! Hey you! You’re in UGWC right?”
Roxy turned and saw a young girl, no older than 19, standing with her arms full of books pressed against her chest. Rox tutted under her breath because she couldn’t tell if the books or the chest were flatter.
“Yes I am, bb, I’m like extremely important there. A former and soon-to-be-again champion. MULTIPLE champion. Grand SLAM Champion. I guess you want a selfie?”
“Huh? Oh, no, that’s okay… I don’t want to be a pest.”
“Too late, bb.”
“But it would be AWESOME if you could tell Eden Morgan that I’m her biggest fan?”
The girls held the books away from her chest, revealing an Eden Morgan tee shirt. In fact, it was an Incendium shirt… but of COURSE Eden was front and center, just like she almost certainly was in the marriage and the bedroom. You could almost see the outline of a cock cage in Baal’s pants, actually.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you right, bb… you don’t want a selfie from me, but you want me to pass a message on to your UGWC girl crush for you?”
“Yes! It would mean SO much to me… I know Angie Vaughn goes to school here too and that’s cool and all… but Eden is the BEST.”
“Is she?”
“Oh for sure! The greatest female in the history of the UGWC by a mile!”
“Oh REALLY?”
“Definitely!”
“Was that before or after she threw herself a pity party funeral?”
“Hey! She was going through a rough time!”
“Gosh, I’ll say she was! She kept getting her ass handed to her by the #CoolKids… if I was ever that incapable of holding onto relevance like she was at that time, I’d probably kill myself too.”
“That’s not okay to say, it’s not woke.”
“And you obviously only manage to maintain a GPA high enough to stay enrolled by spreading for your professors, bb. You’re clearly an idiot. Eden Morgan isn’t the greatest female ANYthing, especially not the greatest female talent in UGWC… because you’re fucking LOOKING at the greatest female talent in UGWC.”
“Look, I didn’t mean to insult you…”
“INSULT me? Insult ME? You? You’re a peasant in a pay by the hour college, bb, you couldn’t insult me in any way other than insulting my eyes with your looks. Seriously, do you color your hair with used dishwater? No wonder you look up to Edie…”
“OMG you call her Edie!? Are you guys friends!?”
The girl is nearly hopping up and down with anticipation, and Roxy puts a hand on her shoulder.
“Come with me, bb. Let me show you all the pics me and Edie have together…”
“OMG OMG OMG OMG!”
Rox and the girl walk away down the hall, and the scene fades.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
San Antonio Community College
The ladies’ room
The ladies’ room
Roxy splashed water on her face, trying to calm herself down. The little twat that had made the comment to her a few minutes earlier wasn’t going to ruin her entire day, that’s for sure.
Who cares if some idiot Texas undergrad thought Eden was better than she was? Who CARES, right?
RIGHT!?
“UGH!”
Roxy kicked the waste basket over, sending little balls of paper towels rolling this way and that.
SHE cared, that’s who. Eden Morgan wasn’t the one who deserved all the adulation from people… ROXY deserved it. After all, Roxy was the one who saved the Coalition from its own dullness when she brought the #CoolKids in. Roxy was the one who ushered in a new era of success and profitability for Donovan and his rotation of creative directors. Without Roxy Cotton, the Coalition would have been just the same three or four people as always, passing titles around like they were pulling each other’s keys out of a bowl to go home with.
Without Roxy Cotton, the Owls would have just sat back and relaxed, knowing they were the only ones in the Coalition with any power. Without Roxy Cotton, there was no Grand Slam. There was no show stealing, record setting Carnage Match at Horizons XII. There was no incredible Flat Earth Challenge at WrestleStock. Without Roxy Cotton, there was no Angie Vaughn, and vice versa. Angie, who would almost certainly go down as the greatest Coalition Champion they’d ever had. And she only ever walked in the door because Roxy’d asked her to.
Now, Roxy was returning the favor to her bestest bestie… she was walking back through that same door to stand side by side with her friend and partner. And she was walking into the exact same Coalition that she’d thought she’d forever changed years prior. Even after a solid year and a half of the Coalition Champion being a charter member of the #CoolKids, things immediately went back to the old days when it was over.
Instead of a revolution, the #CoolKids had apparently only created a momentary diversion for Hastings’ and his nonstop vision of “Eden, Baal, Pierce, Rydell, and Phrixus Forever!”
What had really changed without Roxy around? Now the top titles were held either by the same old same old or by untalented hacks like SEB and Sloane… like… my god… HIDE YAMAZAKI was a two-time Coalition Champion? Centurion, who could barely win a match in XWF anymore, was considered a top contender? Roxy’d seen that somehow even Ruby, who didn’t even GO here, was a former champion. The Cross-Semicircle Championship, no less! That was ROXY’S belt. Her favorite of the bunch.
Roxy was determined to prove the Coalition wrong for choosing to promote inferior talent and to rely on the same handful of losers that they’d always gone back to the well for year after year after year.
Roxy was determined as well to prove the little Texas bitches wrong about their favorite wrestlers. Eden Morgan wasn’t the one who would be walking out of Battleground with a gold belt around a 24 inch waist… I mean, come on, Eden hadn’t seen a 24 inch waist since middle school.
Roxy chuckled in her reflection over the sink. Thinking about ruining Eden’s title reign was making her feel better. In fact, it was filling her with music all over again…
“A story ‘bout Eden…
A washed-up ne’er was…
Most worthless soon-to-be ex-champion in the ring…
Your future's so unclear now
What's left of your career now?
Can't even get a trade in on your smile
Battleground Failure...
No retention for you
Battleground Failure...
We beat you again and take your titles too.
Well you should have stayed in the ground
Where you belong, with all the worms
Instead of faking it and bring cringey
Fake it for Baal, don’t make us all squirm.
Eden is losing
(Eden is losing)
Why try and keep lying?
What are you provin'?
(What are you provin')
You should think of retiring.
If you go to the old folks home you could live your life alone
Give up your gold and get forgott… tone? I guess?
Battleground failure
(Battleground failure)
Overstaying your welcome
Battleground failure
(Battleground failure)
Hang up your boots and go home.
Well she couldn’t beat us ever
She thinks she’s so much better
But she’ll lose her belts again
Like every time we’ve met her.
Eden get ready.
(Get ready.)
You're not good enough to win
BB, forget it
(Forget it)
Don’t you know you’ll lose again?
Now your kicks are weak
Your punches meek
And the Coalition’s found
A better team to win at Battleground.
Morgan will blow it
Don't forget what to expect.
BB, you know it
Even Baal knows his reign is wrecked.
Now I've spread the news
You’re gonna lose
Stop wasting all my time.
It’s hard to string together words that rhyme...
Battleground failure
(Battleground failure)
Give us your titles…
Battleground failure
(Battleground failure)
Give us your titles…
Battleground failure
(Battleground failure)
Give us your titles…”
Rox most likely would have continued singing the chorus over and over again until she lost her voice, it was hypnotic to her to envision the alleged “top female in the history of UGWC” falling at her feet and handing over, for a second time, the nearest and dearest possession she had.
Luckily, though, Angie burst into the ladies’ room just then, completely out of breath.
“Rox! I’ve been looking all over for you! Someone locked some poor girl inside a locker and the cops are here! Can you believe that??”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, bb.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------
San Antonio Community College
The Athletics track
The Athletics track
Angie and Roxy were sitting on the stands near the athletics track, where a few jocks were running some laps and waving at them every time they passed by. Angelica waved back, as did the Kappa Alpha Tau girls seated behind them. Roxy, unsurprisingly, did not.
Behind them, Sandra mumbled.
“If that bonehead sticks his tongue out and does that V-sign one more time… I swear, he’s cruisin’ for a bruisin’!”
Rita laughed and threw a potato chip at Sandra’s head.
“I bet he’d like to bang something other than erasers after class.”
Angelica turned up her nose and looked over her shoulder.
“Girls! Can we keep it non-vulgar, please? Thankies!”
Roxy smiled and gave Angie a bump on her arm.
“They’re right, bb. Besides, that dude’s not the only one cruisin’ for a bruisin’. Because at Battleground, Cool Lightnin’s gonna light up Incendium.”
“And we’ll be bringing the Co-op titles... home!”
Angie stood up, and burst into song, with Roxy following suit. All of the Kappa’s started to snap their fingers, ready to jump in when needed.
We’ve got wins, they’re multiplying
And now we’re next in line
‘Cause to the champions we’re terrifying
Now we’re replying...
You better get set
Because we’re walking in
And snatching belts at Battleground
You better watch out
They’re gonna raise our hand
New champions abound
Nothin' left, nothin' left for us except...
It’s the titles we want (the Co-ops are what we want)
Ooh, ooh, ooh, bb
It’s the titles we want (the Co-ops are what we want)
Ooh, ooh, ooh, bb
It’s the titles we want (the Co-ops are what we want)
Ooh, ooh, ooh
The ones we need (the ones we need)
Time to concede (yes, concede)
Incendium’s scared and deflectin’
They’re too crap to retain
Co-ops coming in our direction
For them it’s pain...
They better wise up
Because the #CoolKids win
We need a team
Who can leave empty-handed
They better show up
Ready to lose the gold
They need to know
Their championships we’ve demanded
Are you sure?
Yes, I'm sure down deep inside
It’s the titles we want (the Co-ops are what we want)
Ooh, ooh, ooh, bb
It’s the titles we want (the Co-ops are what we want)
Ooh, ooh, ooh, bb
It’s the titles we want (the Co-ops are what we want)
Ooh, ooh, ooh
The ones we need (the ones we need)
Time to concede (yes, concede)
It’s the titles we want (the Co-ops are what we want)
Ooh, ooh, ooh, bb
It’s the titles we want (the Co-ops are what we want)
Ooh, ooh, ooh, bb
It’s the titles we want (the Co-ops are what we want)
Ooh, ooh, ooh
The ones we need (the ones we need)
Time to concede (yes, concede)
It’s the titles we want (the Co-ops are what we want)
Ooh, ooh, ooh, bb
It’s the titles we want (the Co-ops are what we want)
Ooh, ooh, ooh, bb
It’s the titles we want (the Co-ops are what we want)
Ooh, ooh, ooh
The ones we need (the ones we need)
Time to concede (yes, concede)
It’s the titles we want (the Co-ops are what we want)
Ooh, ooh, ooh, bb
It’s the titles we want
Roxy and Angie fall into each other’s arms after finishing the vigorous duet, laughing and crying happy tears. They were both ebullient over the idea of coming full circle and making a real go out of the Cooperative Championships.
“OMG Ang I can’t remember the last time I was this excited to go to work… all through my previous run in UGWC, it felt like I had to climb and fight just to be appreciated. But now? I don’t NEED to feel appreciated by anyone other than you!”
“Aw! You know I appreciate you, Rox!”
“I know you do… and this is really, really special to me, bb.”
Ang smirks playfully.
“WELLLLLLLLLLLLLLL teaming with the GrandEST Slam Champion in UGWC history should be really special to anyone!”
“Don’t get sassy, missy. You aren’t THAT tall.”
Angie suddenly looks crestfallen.
“Wait… I’m not? Do you mean that?”
“OMG Angie stop it! You’re amazing! I’m amazing! WE are even more amazing together than we are apart. I just wish Vinnie was here right now so he could see us. Without him I wouldn’t have even considered trying again…”
“Let’s send him a team selfie!”
Roxy grins and she flutters her eyelashes.
“Angie… that is a FANTASTIC idea.”
Roxy pulls her cell phone from her clutch, and opens it up to take a picture. She stops though, when she sees she’s received a text.
“Oh! Weird… it’s from Jess.”
“Miss Fury? You guys talk?”
Angelica didn’t like Miss Fury. What little she had seen from her had been horrible. But even though Miss Fury had nothing to do with the Coalition, some actions sent ripples throughout the entire landscape of wrestling, not held back by the borders of a single company..
“I mean, sort of. Sometimes. She usually just sends me videos of people crying after she gets finished with them, and that’s always funny. Looks like she sent me a link!”
Roxy clicks the link in the text message and her phone screen is suddenly filled with a vision of the XWF’s BOB-branded show, titled Scorch the Earth. Jessica had invited Roxy to come in person, but it was in a sweaty arena with no real AC and she’d have had to buy her own airfare, so, she made up an excuse.
The video rolled on, and Roxy smiled as she saw her fiance Vinnie Lane in the ring with Fury. It was a rare treat to see Vinnie actually perform in-ring these days, since his injury cut short his career in 2016.
Then, Roxy’s face fell.
“Rox? You okay? What is it?”
But Roxy didn’t answer. She just kept staring at the phone screen long after the video wrapped up. The screen went black as the screensaver took over, and still Roxy just stood with the phone in her hand in front of her face, not moving a muscle.
“Roxy? ROX! Talk to me!”
“I… I don’t know what to say, Angie.”
“What is it? What did Miss Fury send you?”
“That tape. The one that Vinnie’s been talking about all this time. That Cent and Ruby helped him with. They… they played it at the BOB show…”
“OMG! Really!? What was it? Did they have embarrassing old photos of you on there? Or of Vinnie? Was it like a visual diss track?”
Roxy’s eyes spilled over with tears and she collapsed back into Angie’s arms, never having wanted one of those violent hugs more in her life.
Angie held her friend and let her soak her sweater through with loud sobs while she just stood there and rubbed her back.
“Hey… Hey Roxy, it’s okay! Whatever it is, it’s gonna be okay! Those BOB dummies are mean to everyone, I wish they’d stop making everyone feel bad. ESPECIALLY you. We can rub it in their faces when we win the titles at Battleground, and we’ll make Vinnie super proud of you!”
The mention of Vinnie’s name only makes Roxy cry harder, and Angie can do nothing but hold on and soothe her.
A few minutes go by and Roxy eventually raises her head, her face a mess with smeared and running makeup.
“Angie… he cheated on me.”
Angelica’s eyes nearly pop out of their sockets.
“But… But… Love is a many splendored thing!”
There seems to be no consoling Roxy, for the time being. Angie understands, and simply holds her. Sometimes, the MOST was to say the very least.
