Post by Winston Family Values on Jun 29, 2024 18:33:07 GMT
“Let me start this off by introducing myself, My name is Dixie Winston. I am the eldest daughter and the head of the Winston family.
Ladies and gentlemen, let me tell you something! This isn’t just any wrestling match— this is a ten-person tag team match featuring my family against some of the brightest up-and-coming stars in the wrestling world. Sure, there’s Pax Stormcrow in there too. I’m not saying he ain’t talented, but he has been around these parts for a couple of years. He’s your heater.
Everyone else got less than a year in this company under their belts. This is an exacerbation. This is a display. This is a goddamn barn raising for this company. I don’t think they ever booked a match like this that wasn’t a cage match against factions to keep the company from being burned to the ground. This is just a good old-fashioned brawl.
But this match is more than about that. This is a match about family. One one side of the ring you got a chosen family. Rini, Charlotte, Natasha, Pax, and the big fella Masao. Friends that are becoming family. I ain’t gonna spit on that. Chosen family is just as important as anything else.
But we got the advantage here. See, the significance of family is unity and teamwork. This match isn't just about winning but also about showcasing the strength and bond of my family. I raised these kids myself. We worked ourselves to the bone to be good enough to get into this company. And I am damn proud of every single one. We might not be the people you think about but I’m gonna take this match as a chance to really show everyone exactly what a Winston can do.”
Dixie had done her best to raise her siblings. She was scrappy, resourceful, and not afraid to get into a fight. As the sole provider for the Winston family, she took on odd jobs (and demeaning ones) to provide for what her little welfare checks got. Getting into wrestling had started as simply a way to make money. Do a couple of matches at a few local VFWs and get enough food to feed her siblings for a few weeks. Gretchen joined her in the ring to help carry the load. Dixie had never been good. She didn’t have the training or the knack for it like some. But it was enough to get paid.
The rest of the siblings joining in had been mostly to get enough money to spread around to bills and things. Getting signed up for IWF had been a dream come true. Sure, they weren’t by no means getting top of the card billing. But for whatever faults Verona had, he made sure they got checks in the bank regardless. Some might be bitter, but Dixie was just happy never to have to fear a letter from the bank again.
Nobody lived together anymore of course. Denny had a studio apartment above a bar where he worked part-time for Ethan King. Gretchen had an apartment closer to the IWF performance center. Bridie was living in some hole in the wall closer to where the Spencer’s lived. Jolene had bought her very own trailer next door, and the two of them had moved Mama and Pa’s trailer onto a nice piece of land away from the town where they’d grown up. Dixie wasn’t much for farming or nothing, but having land of their own with less gossipy neighbors was as close to a dream come true as anything else.
She’d been white trash her whole life. The fact her babysitter had decided to drag the whole family to Japan for this tour just to get all the wedding things set only made Dixie feel more out of place. She and Gretchen were paying for the wedding, as was the tradition. Bride’s family paid for the wedding. If Birdie wanted to get married on July Fourth in a cosplay wedding in Japan Dixie wasn’t gonna stop her.
Dixie knew she should be happy for her little sister. The first one to find a man and settle down with. Dixie had raised her since she was a baby, so it was like watching her own daughter get married. But all Dixie could think about was how this new life Birdie was starting, moving to Japan after they were married to live that nice life was leaving Dixie and the family behind.
Gretchen was the only one Dixie could vent her anxiety to as they sat in the hotel room trying to finish the last of the table centerpieces.
“Remind me what we are making again?” Dixie asked as she dropped the dice all blue into a bottle.
“Mana potion. Like helps them get magic refresh or some such nonsense.” Gretchen poured red dice into a bottle. “I’m doing help potions.”
“Couldn’t just have a normal wedding,” Dixie grumbled.
“I think it’s sweet. They love their video games and they are making it a part of their wedding. Apparently, the characters they are cosplaying are destined to always find each other and fall in love. It’s sweet as pie to me.” Gretchen smiled.
“When you get married please do something normal.” Dixie shoved in the cork in the bottle before grabbing the next.
“What makes ya think I’m getting married anytime soon?” Gretchen looked at Dixie like she was being crazy.
“Oh so you aint flirting with that big fella Jeremiah?” Dixie scuffed.
“I ain’t flirting!” Gretchen protested.
“You were looking at him like he was a piece of smoked barbecue rib. But sure, you ain’t flirting.” Dixie shook her head. “Should get you a bucket for all that droll.”
“I…shut up, Dixie Ray.” Gretchen was blushing hard it just proved Dixie was right.
“Uh-huh.” Dixie smiled as she dropped more dice in the bottle.
“...Did you send an invite to Staling?” Gretchen quickly changed the subject, as was her nature.
“Sure did. She ain’t gonna come. We both know that.” Dixie shook the bottle to settle the dice.
“I still can’t believe Mama or Pa just dumped her at a bus station. Its just so… I just… we were taking good care of them, weren’t we?”
“You forget the time Mama tried trading Denny for Pull-tabs. Neither of those sonsofbitches had any idea how to be good parents. She got a life she likely loves. We’re just painful examples of what coulda been.”
“I just… She’s all alone.”
“Maybe she likes it. Leave it be, Gretchen, you don’t need to mother them all. She made her choice standing by that fucking monster and his whore. How many of these do we need to finish before we can go to the gym for the match?”
“At least five more.”
“I think out of the five of us Winston Siblings I’m the one that’s been booked the least. Gretchen Winston, in case you don’t know my face. It’s okay if you don’t.
I don’t get the screen time Dixie and Jolene been getting lately. I’m the second oldest. I hot as hard as Dixie does but I don’t nearly got as much hellcat energy. Which is fine by me. I like being myself.
Technically I was the first to join IWF but that don’t matter much does it?
I have faith in my family. We might not be as trained or as skilled as the talent across the ring but you better not overlook us.
And I want to be clear, there is a lot of talent and potential on the other side of the ring. There is also a lot of skills and determination. I like to see fresh faces in the ring. It is both a thrilling challenge and an honor, as it pushes me and my family to bring our best.
Now don’t get it twisted, just because we are some white trash doesn’t mean we haven't been putting in the preparation and training for this match. We know to keep our contract we have to show Verona our dedication and hard work that is required to compete at such a high level as a Pay-per-view.
And we are going to prove that to Mr. Verona this week. We are just as hard-working as we’ve ever been. We are good work horses and you can book us a lot more.
I see this as him having faith in us. And I intend to show him that faith is not misplaced.”
Gretchen found comfort in the loudness and craziness of having the family together. Even as she had tried to polish her life up and pass off as some kind of normal girl not a redneck from trash. But you could take the girl from the trailer park but the trailer park was always gonna be in the girl.
She’d tried to stand on her own. Be a real normal type. Had even tried to find some of the live-laugh-love lifestyle. But she missed the simple pleasures of cowboy boots and cut-off jeans too much. She hated of prissy everyone was in the city. She missed the fresh air and the smell of wood smoke.
Most of all she missed her family. Renting a house in Japan to make sure they were all together to finish the wedding décor and make sure they were all getting their gym time in had been her idea. She wanted to make sure everyone was ready for what was coming. She might not have been allowed to get in the ring when the Spencer's had been attacked by that Daniels fella but watching him put his hands on her sister made her feel positively like a mama bear. None of that nonsense was gonna happen again. If she’d had her way that man would never have lived long enough to get married to his Stopford wife. Dixie had been in support but Jolene and Denny had argued they’d already lost Pa to prison not to risk another.
Focusing on the wedding preparations tried to calm her temper. She didn’t know Japan well enough to hide a body anyhow. Right now she was focusing on getting the whole family fed. Maybe she made too much and it’d be an excuse to walk across the street to drop some off for the Spencers but that wasn’t on purpose. Accidental.
“Deep frying a brisket? Shoot, girl. Where did you even find that?” Jolene sat next to Gretchen using a fan to cool down.
“How’s the dresses coming?” Gretchen looked back at Jolene.
“Need to rest my hands for a couple of hours. It’s coming together though. Looks real beautiful.” Jolene smiled, “Seriously though, that looks to be a lot of meat for just us.”
“The smoker should seal in some good flavor. Be ready in an hour so don’t be opening it. I got the rest of the food chillin’ in the fridge.” Gretchen took the fan out of Jolene’s hand and fanned herself. “Hotter than hell out here. Always thought Japan was a chilly place.”
Jolene shrugged. “What we should be doing is more time at the gym for the match. A 10-person tag ain’t kiddie pool stuff.”
“We’ve been working hard. We can have at least one American meal. Might be one of the Last Birdie and Ricky have.”
“You think they are gonna go through with it? He got cold feet once. He might again.”
“Course they are. Never seen someone so in love as I have with those two.”
“Dixie will kill him after all the crafts she’s been making anyway.”
“Dixie would not. Well… unless he got her pregnant. Then yeah, he’d be deader than Kennedy.”
“So… you gonna run the food over to The Spencer’s rental, huh? You think Abigail is gonna be there?”
Gretchen looked over at Jolene and crossed her arms. “No. I do not. She’s likely staying somewhere Romantic with her girlfriend. And even if they were over there what would you do?”
“Talk to them? We had good conversations so far. Just casually ask if they wanted to hang out.”
“Easier ways to make friends with other girls, don’t you think than being a third wheel there?”
“I just…I don’t know any other girls like me.”
“I wouldn’t say they are like you. They just happen to be Sapphic-inclined. Sure, Abby got a similar background but that doesn’t mean you are gonna be best friends. Just mind your manners and try not to get your hopes up.”
“You sound like Mama.”
“Did I start talking about The Hat Man and not realize it?” Gretchen teased handing back her fan.
“You know what I mean.” Jolene stuck out her tongue.
“Look, I know it seems harsh. But I don’t want you to be disappointed, alright? You're a gentle soul and you get hurt easily.” Gretchen ruffled Jolene’s hair.
“Is it because you want to see Jeremiah that I can’t come to see if Abby is there?”
Gretchen groaned, “You all gossip more than a sewing circle I swear.”
“Yeah, I’m Jolene Winston. You’ve never heard of me. I’m not as tough as my sisters. I’m also not as attractive as them too, I know. But I can fight just as hard.
You know, I’ve been in this ring a lot of times. I've faced opponents who made me push myself to the limit but at Rising Suns... Rising Suns feels different. I’m standing here about to go toe-to-toe with the women who defeated the murder, the Iron Maiden, A former World Champion, the high point holders of Hier and Heiress to the throne, plus legit just hard-working people, and honestly? I’m feeling out of my depth.
They’re not just at the top of their game— they are the game. They’ve got the experience, the strength, the skill... and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little scared. But you know what? Fear isn’t going to stop me.
Because being out of your depth means one thing: you have to swim harder, fight harder, be harder. I may not have the accolades, the belts, or the years under my belt-heh-, but I’ve got heart. I’ve got the fire that got me here in the first place.
I respect y’all, I admire y’all, but I’m not here to roll over and give you an easy win. I’m here to prove that no matter how deep the waters are, I can swim with the best. I’m here to show that even out of my depth, I can still fight with everything I’ve got.”
Jolene was the sister who was overlooked more often than not. Being the middle sister she spent a lot of her time putting out fires and trying to get everyone understanding each other. A book she read once said she was the peacekeeper. She guessed the made sense.
Jolene picked up some of the living area as she wandered around the rental. It wasn’t messy so much as she wanted to keep some of the wedding decorations a surprise. She’s already had the wedding dress and the brides made dresses stashed in her room. She had the guy's cosplay outfits done, just likely needed to do some last-minute fitting… wouldn’t be terrible to invite them over for the fitting and to have some of Gretchen’s cooking.
If it helped blend the family a little, what was the harm?
“Hey, y’all?” Jolene called as she walked to the door. “Gonna invite the boys over for a fitting… Get decent if you ain’t!”
She heard some protests but it was too late, she was already out the door. Jolene was nervous, she was always nervous but she tried to remind herself that they were all gonna be family soon anyway, no harm in trying to be friendly. She knocked on the door to their rental, waiting for an answer.
Spencer answered the door in a simple white tank top and blue denim jeans and cowboy boots, his smile dropping slightly when it was Jolene and not Gretchen standing there. “Oh, Jo, it’s you. Come in.”
“Actually, I was gonna ask if ya’ll want to come over.” Jolene gestured back to their rental. “Gretchen’s making a big ol deep-fried smoked Brisket. Been making it all day and I know it ain’t just for us. Also could get the final fittings on you boys for the wedding. If we are pretending like she didn’t make that food just to share with yall.”
“Sure,” Spencer smiled. “Give me ten minutes ta get the band together.”
“Perfect. By the way, Gretch did her hair all nice. Got the good boots on and everything.” Jolene bounced on her heels with a smile. “Just so you knows.”
“Is it that obvious?” Spencer seemed surprised, he thought he was subtle.
“Not to her. But like all little sisters, I got an eye for it.” Jolene teased. “She’ll be pleased as punch with what you got on.”
Spencer’s grin widened, “Please don’t spoil it, I’d rather she reached her own conclusions about me, but between ya and me, I think she’s perfect. I hope she feels the same.”
“Oh trust me, she’s sweet on ya.” Jolene beamed. “Just not used to doing things for herself.”
“I get it, as the eldest, I also have ta put my family’s needs before my own most of the time.”
“She’s basically our mom.” Jolene nods, “See you at the house soon.”
Jolene walked back to the rental house and smiled to see all her siblings waiting for her when she got back.
“Well?” Denny asked.
“They’ll be over soon.” Jolene smiled.
“Yey!!!” Birdie practically leaped for joy. “Family dinner! Family dinner!”
“Hells bells.” Dixie sighed moving away from the door where it was less loud.
“You’re a meddler, you know that?” Gretchen crossed her arms.
“What? I am not. I need to fit the guys for their outfits….” Jolene played innocent.
“Uh-huh.” Gretchen shook her head.
“Don’t act like you didn’t just spend a couple minutes fussing over your hair.” Denny teased.
“I shoulda drowned you both at the kiddie pool.” Gretchen was blushing hard.
“No murder talk.” Birdie hugged Gretchen tightly. “Oh man, a family dinner! This is going to be so good!”
There was a little bit of fretting about whether Gretchen wanted to answer the door or not and retreated to the backyard to stare at the smoker. Leaving Jolene and Denny to sit on the couch while Dixie waited by the door so Birdie could make an entrance when Ricky came in.
Fifteen minutes later, the Spencer boys arrived, led by Bucky. No Abby, much to Jolene’s disappointment. Bucky winked at Dixie when she answered the door, “What’s up, doll?”
Dixie rolled her eyes, whether she was playing hard to get or was immune to Bucky’s charm was unclear, “Bucky.” She pushed the door open so they could all come inside.
They came in, Spencer tried to play it cool as his eyes met Gretchen’s. Gretchen looked a little like a deer caught in the headlights as her face went red before she collected herself, swallowing a little, “Oh uh hey… food’s almost…almost done.”
“It smells so good,” Spencer beamed, food was definitely the way to the big ol’ country boy’s heart, “Though I’ll admit I’m curious where ya found brisket this far East.”
“I had to go to the meat market and make a special order. But I figured it was worth it.” Gretchen tucked her hair behind her ear. “Little bit of home out here."
“I love a gal who knows what she wants an’ takes the initiative,” Spencer said.
“Ricky!” Birdie came skipping into the room rushing towards her fiancé practically leaping into his arms, wearing some casual Velma-inspired cosplay outfit as she kissed him happily, distracting a little from her older sister’s flirting, making Denny laugh. Ricky returned the kiss confidently, he felt safe to do so among family. Birdie smiled happily at her fiancé. “I’ve missed seeing you every day, Ricky. It’s been so lonely sleeping alone.”
“What?” Dixie and Gretchen spoke at the same time, making Birdie wince slightly.
“...Uhh… I mean…” Birdie being the baby was used to her older sisters being overprotective and treating her like they were her parents. “The thing is…”
“Are you pregnant? Is that why you finally set a date?” Dixie demanded.
“No! God, I’m not stupid.” Birdie swallowed slightly, “We ain’t like sleeping, sleeping together. Just like sleeping. We’re waiting for the wedding night for that. We just…moved in together.”
Denny laughed, “So all that wanting to live on your own was horse shit.”
“Not helping, Denny.” Jolene scolded.
“I knew you’d be mad. It’s why I didn’t tell you.” Birdie did her best with big soft small cat eyes. “Please don’t be angry?”
“It was my idea,” Ricky said. “B was worried I was gettin’ cold feet after Cyrus kicked the crap outta me so I thought it’d be the best way ta make her see how gosh darn serious I was.”
The rest of the brothers didn’t react to the news which told the Winston's one thing, they already knew, and likely helped Ricky keep it on the downlow because Birdie was worried her sisters in particular wouldn’t understand.
There was a tense silence as Dixie looked at Gretchen who shrugged slightly.
Dixie groaned, “Fine. But you best be actually getting married.”
“Thank you Dix!” Birdie hugged her sister tightly.
“Oh come on! That’s all you’re gonna say! If I moved in with a guy you’d be ripping me a new asshole.”
“Don’t start with me Denny,” Dixie warned.
“I’m gonna go get the brisket outta the smoker. I’ll be back…” Gretchen gave a small smile as she stepped back out to the porch, clearly exiting before it could become a fight.
“Well, who wants to try and get their final fitting done before my sister fattens ya’ll up?” Jolene offers with a smile.
“I’ll volunteer,” Jeb smiled.
“Perfect, come on back to my makeshift studio.” Jolene laughed guiding him out of the room. The room had a couple of dress-making models scattered around the room and a few men-sized ones. Jolene grabbed the outfit Jeb had told her he wanted to do for the wedding.
“Try em on and let me know what you think.” Jolene smiled.
“Gonna give me some privacy or what?”
“Oh, right sorry.” Jolene went red stepping out into the hall, back to the door feeling deeply embarrassed.
“Well, well, well, look what we have here. The so-called 'best of the rising stars’. HA! What a joke! Sure you’ve all been making waves on the whole his and hers Hier tournament but come on. A tornado tag? That means everyone is legal. No tagging in. Everyone in the fucking pool.
You see, I'm not just here to win. I'm here to make a statement. I'm here to show the world that Denny Winston is an asset. You step into this ring with me, and you're not just facing a man. You're facing a force of nature. You're facing the embodiment of excellence.
I got more training than my sisters and sure mostly I’ve been doing the management bag for them. But let’s not forget who I am.
Do you think this is the first time Winstons has been in a family-wide brawl?
You don’t know the type of trouble you are getting into. Me and my sisters aren't just wrestlers; we are warriors. We tackle every challenge head-on, whether it was in the ring or in our daily lives. The rough and hard-hitting nature of our upbringing, of our training instilled in us a resilience that would carry us through any adversity. Together, we embodied the spirit of a true wrestling family: tough, united, and unstoppable. We ain't the Kanes, the Blakes or the Docherty. Sure, we ain't got the riches or the titles or any of that shit. but we are a goddamn family and at Riding Suns, you are all gonna be reminded not to overlook us.”
Denny's frustration has been building for a while. He can't help but feel a deep sense of unfairness when it comes to his baby sister Birdie. It seems like no matter what she does, she always escapes consequences. Whether she's breaking something or causing a mess, everyone brushes it off with a smile or a laugh, saying, "She's just a baby."
This sense of injustice is compounded by the way Dixie and Gretchen treat him. Whenever he tries to voice his opinions or share his ideas, they dismiss him as if he doesn't know anything. They often talk over him or make decisions without considering his input. It's like they see him as incapable or unimportant, making him feel more isolated.
Denny feels like he's fading into the background, unseen and unheard. His efforts to get attention or recognition seem futile, getting Ethan King as a mentor had only led to some semi-success a few years back and nothing but endless shit from his sisters. He longs for someone to acknowledge his feelings and treat him with the respect he deserves.
“Can you believe this shit?” Denny came up to Jolene as she stood outside the bedroom door..
“Denny, seriously not the time,” Jolene whispered. “We are less than a week out from the wedding and I need to focus on last-minute fixes.”
“She gets away with murder. I work for one heel and I got a never-ending wave of shit for it.” Denny groaned. “Come on, please at least side with me for once.”
“What do you want me to do? Yell at Birdie for moving in with her fiance? Don’t be weird.” Jolene waved him off.
Denny wished not for the first time he’d been the one left at a bus stop to be adopted by someone else.
Jeb stepped out in full Zagreus cosplay, “Okay, I’m ready,” he said.
Denny let out a whistle, Jolene rolled her eyes and pushed Denny as she turned to make some final adjustments, “Looks good on ya.”
“Thank you.”
“Denny, go find something else to do, please.” Jolene insisted.
Denny considered making a scene but just threw up his hands and decided he was going to go for a walk.
“Ladies and gentlemen, Birdie Winston here, and let me tell you, I am absolutely buzzing about what's coming up! A tornado tag match, where the ring is gonna be filled with some of the coolest, most talented competitors I've ever seen!
You see, in a tornado tag match, it's all about chaos, it's all about unpredictability, and you know what? That's where I thrive! I live for the thrill, the adrenaline, and the chance to prove myself against the very best!
Every single one of you knows that when Birdie Winston steps into that ring, I bring everything I've got. I bring heart, I bring fire, and I bring the fight of my life. And this time, with so many incredible opponents, I promise you, it’s gonna be one for the ages! And I get to be there with my sisters and my brother!
Get ready, because when that bell rings, it's gonna be a storm like no other. And at the eye of that storm, you'll find me, standing tall, ready to take on whatever comes my way. Let's do this!”
Birdie was cuddled up next to Ricky as dinner was winding down. She loved her life. She considered everything to be perfect. She had the love of her life. She had her sisters and Denny. She had a career that did okay. She had a house she and Ricky had bought. The wedding was just a few days away. Jolene had everything done for the wedding clothes. Gretchen and Dixie had all the DIY stuff done. Everything was coming together, nothing could be better…besides Starling still wasn’t returning her texts.
“You got anything you got to do for the wedding, Ricky?” Birdie asked looking up at him with a smile.
“Nah, I made sure I’m all yours sugar, got Jolene ta do her fittin’s real quick. Was nice ta have Ma help out so we could get it all done in time,” Ricky smiled.
“Soon we’re gonna be hitched. I’m so excited. I can barely wait.” Birdie beamed. “Everything is coming together so perfectly, don’t you think?”
“The Good Lord has certainly blessed us,” Ricky acknowledged softly, “But I knew that when He sent me my very own Angel.”
“Sweet talker.” Birdie giggled, kissing him softly. “Thank you for sticking with me. Thank you for proposing to me at Comic-Con. Thank you for agreeing to my idea for the theme. You are my one and only.”
“Likewise, honey. Likewise,” Ricky whispered, holding her gaze. “I hope ya like bein’ Mrs Spencer.”
“I will.” Birdie assured him, “Though…uh, I mean, there is one thing I’m a little nervous about.”
“Oh? Whatever it is, we can handle it together, I promise.”
Birdie glances around to make sure their siblings are busy talking and laughing, “The…the wedding night. I don’t really… I mean I know birds and the bees and stuff. But what if I’m bad at it?”
“I’m a virgin too, I was savin’ myself remember? So, I have no idea what will be good or bad, I only know I love ya and will always love ya. God willin’ that’s enough ta see us through everythin’ together.”
Birdie seemed to relax at his reassurance and snuggled into his lap, “You’re right. I’m just being silly. Thank you.”
“You ain’t silly,” he hugged and kissed her cheek, rubbing her back. “Cute, but not silly.”
“Thank you Ricky.” Birdie couldn’t be happier.