Post by Mai Everstone on Mar 16, 2024 18:34:55 GMT
Mai sat in her backyard watching Phobos and Deimos working on their puzzle feeder in an all-black dress and wide-brimed black hat with a veil trying to decide what to do about the constant ringing of her cell phone. She knew on the one hand it had been a mistake to give the number out but on the other part of her was happy to have any contact at all.
She was an island to herself most of the time, and while she had gotten used to her solitude with some slight regret about being alone. Today she took some sick pleasure in them being on the other side of it for once. Let someone else have unanswered questions. Let someone else feel like they didn't understand. Let someone else feel isolated.
Phobos flew over to her side table and poked her cellphone with his beak.
"I don't want to answer it." Mai explained.
Phobos cawed at her.
"Fine." Mai picked up the phone can unlocked her cellphone screen to see 15 missed calls, 8 unread text messages and 3 voicemails.
Mai scrolled to the voicemails first and pressed play.
Mai, this is uh... Jolene... your...sister. Listen, I know you uh...joined the Murder and all... but Birdie is in the hospital for concussion risk... I...listen, if you can call me back...that would be great.
Mai pressed delete.
Answer the goddamned phone. We need to talk.
Mai pressed delete.
Hey. It's Birdie. Listen, are you okay? I know that attack likely wasn't your idea or anything but I really want to talk to you. I know Dixie and Gretchen are blowing up your phone but, I get it. I mean, we all want to spread our wings and all. I don't know why you aren't calling us back. We're sisters, Starling -
Mai deleted the message before it could finish throwing her phone as hard as she could across the yard making Deimos jump.
"THAT'S NOT MY NAME!" Mai screamed before sitting back down in her chair putting her hands to her ears, squeezing her eyes shut. Tried not to think about the conversation in the Waffle House over a year ago.
Mai had sat across the large sticky table feeling more out of place than she ever had anywhere else, staring at the face that looked exactly like her own surrounded by the other Winston siblings.
"This is freaky." Denny Winston said looking between the two sides of the table. "I mean, holy cow you two are identical."
"It's so weird." Birdie had smiled wide. "I feel like that Disney movie with Lindsay Lohan. Except it's not summer camp. What are the chances we'd both be wrestlers, right?"
Mai wished she'd gone into any other career at the moment, "Yeah..."
"Your adopted Dad gave us a call. I had to dig through some of Mom and dad's old paperwork but I found your birth certificate if you want it." Gretchen pushed a folder across the table at Mai. Mai just stared at it.
"...Did it say why I was left at a bus deport?" Mai asked not touching the folder.
"Well, no but-"
"We thought you died." Dixie cut her sister off. "When they came home from the hospital with just Birdie we just thought you hadn't made it. Shit girl, we had a funeral for you. Me and Gretchen. Jolene was too young. But we made a little grave and shit in the backyard."
"Dixie." Gretchen scolded.
"It's like seeing a ghost." Dixie ignored Gretchen. "But you had a good life with your adopted family? They raised ya right?"
"You're real name is Starling. Like the bird." Birdie smiled too kind at her. "Birdie and Starling. Isn't that pretty? I think it's pretty, don't you? I think your real name fits you just perfectly, don't you? Really makes ya part of our family."
"This is freaky." Denny Winston said looking between the two sides of the table. "I mean, holy cow you two are identical."
"It's so weird." Birdie had smiled wide. "I feel like that Disney movie with Lindsay Lohan. Except it's not summer camp. What are the chances we'd both be wrestlers, right?"
Mai wished she'd gone into any other career at the moment, "Yeah..."
"Your adopted Dad gave us a call. I had to dig through some of Mom and dad's old paperwork but I found your birth certificate if you want it." Gretchen pushed a folder across the table at Mai. Mai just stared at it.
"...Did it say why I was left at a bus deport?" Mai asked not touching the folder.
"Well, no but-"
"We thought you died." Dixie cut her sister off. "When they came home from the hospital with just Birdie we just thought you hadn't made it. Shit girl, we had a funeral for you. Me and Gretchen. Jolene was too young. But we made a little grave and shit in the backyard."
"Dixie." Gretchen scolded.
"It's like seeing a ghost." Dixie ignored Gretchen. "But you had a good life with your adopted family? They raised ya right?"
"You're real name is Starling. Like the bird." Birdie smiled too kind at her. "Birdie and Starling. Isn't that pretty? I think it's pretty, don't you? I think your real name fits you just perfectly, don't you? Really makes ya part of our family."
Mai got out of her chair and walked over to her phone and picked it off the ground to check if she'd broken it, through some cruel god's plan it was perfectly fine. She could call them. She could respond to any of their texts. She could explain she had nothing to do with whatever Vivienne's alpha male fucking boyfriend did. But why should she give them comfort when she hadn't had any herself?
A battle royal. So it's basically an Iron maiden before the iron maiden. What kind of logic is that? You can't pick who you think deserves to be in the match so we have to just keep proving it over and over again? Wow. Management really doesn't know how to handle the women's division at all do they?
Let's not waste a lot of time. Mimi, Nancy and Candy are at best benchwarmers. They are here to make the match feel bigger than it is. Mimi and Candy are just happy to get that paycheck. Nancy is too old and too bitter to acknowledge that her time in the ring passed her by. If they ever expanded beyond performance center talent they would have fought Jennie for the belt. she says she wants to fight anyone she can and while the rest of us are trying to earn that shot they could simply call her out and try to make a name for themselves. But they are just too happy to be disappointments to anyone who paid for their training. We all know they aren't qualifying for the iron maiden.
Itami? Itami talks a big game but she's only really here to recruit for her cult. She doesn't give a shit about her matches if they aren't tag team. And that's her choice. Everyone is allowed to make that kinda choice of course. But it's kind of a waste of a spot to throw her in here. If she even bothers to fight this time. Or is she going to just sit by and watch again? If she decideds to actually get in the ring and Caroline doesn't handle her I will. This division needs women who give a shit about it. Not just people who are wasting everyone's time to play second fiddle to some guy who can't exist on his own without some new cult or church to belong to.
Caroline Machado just wants to get back on top. She'll talk about her time as champ. She'll sell some good vibes bit and eat shit. Let's be honest here. As much as she was a champion that's not why she's here. She might want to get the belt back but she i just here to remind people James Gilmore and Fiona whatever her last name was trained her. she'll talk about puppies or rainbows and then have an entrance that takes 20 minutes. She's not a threat. She could be. She was at some point. But she keeps coming here to shill for other people.
Amber Vogel is too new to really have a read on her. She's got muscle, I'll give her that. But she seems like just the latest vanity project from the Fenix sisters. A loaded dice. Someone they trained trying to stack the deck in their favor to ensure Jennie keeps the belt as long as possible. If I get to pick who I eliminate first, it's her. The Fenix sisters don't get to have a safety blanket. They don't get to decide to protect Jennie. Fuck her. And fuck them.
Serenity Holms? Are you going to shit the bed again? Are you going to be so focused on Natasha that you forget that something actually matters in this company you might actually have to try? Are you so used to be handed things that you forget that this is a wrestling company? If there is one person in this match who hasn't really earned the right to even try to get into the Iron maiden I'd pick you. At least the losers have worked in their matches. You? You barely focus on the matches you have and waste everyone's time by talking about how important you are somewhere else. Just shut up and fight. Earn the respect you think you deserve.
Natasha Walker. You got fucked in the tag match. you have my sympathy. You actually seem to know what you are working for. You actually want to earn your spot. I get that. I respect that. I'm still gonna kick your ass. But I at least know you are taking this serious. You and me will likely get those spots. And I look forward to seeing what you can do. Forget Serenity and focus on winning. She's a big old waste of time.
Abigail...
Look, I get if you are mad about... well, a couple things. That's your right. I didn't fuck you over in the tag match. I was trying. We lack team work and that's not on me. You're the one who didn't want to talk to me or try to work together. You can be mad about that. And I don't blame you. I tried. But no... what you are actually madder about is what happened last week. I don't control anyone but myself/. I don't know the beef Vivienne may or may not have with your family. I don't know what's going on with the dude she is fucking. That's got nothing to do with me. but if you feel raw about it and want to throw hands, let's fucking go. I got my own problems but I'm willing to put their face on you to earn my spot.
April and Charlotte? you got your own shit to figure it out. you get to drop in at the end and find a way to try to get the best spot for the Iron Maiden. Trust me when I say I have no problem beat the both of you to win this whole match.
Because as one of the few people who've been in the Iron Maiden before. I know the whole thing can be won before anyone else gets out of their cage. I want to win that match which means I have to be one of the last people to enter. Because I want the world title. I want to earn my right to the top of this division. I want to actually bring the division to the peak of perfection. I want us to all elevate to a place where we overshadow the men's division. And the best way for me to get to my goal is to show no mercy and being a goddamn monster and show you all what I can do.
Well howdy there pardner.