Still a Star.

[Ayla St. James]

Madness, Vol 1: It feeds.

{Soft, feminine whimpering, like the echoes of despair. There's no visual, just the sad soft sobbing sound. A door opened, and the sobbing slowly subsided. Then a laugh, almost like a high pitched cackle.}

Still moping? You really should just get over it. I did, in fact...

{There was a long pause, a soft moan from the cackler.}

I'm ready for a little more.

Just.. just go away.. I.. I don't want to.. do those things any more.

Awww, do you think you're hurting me? How sweet.

How can I not be!? I.. I.. don't think things are.. supposed to do that.. to.. it hurts me just to watch it!

Funny you should say that..

{Echoing footsteps across a cobbled floor.}

Because I checked you.. downstairs.. when you cried yourself to sleep afterwards. You were wet.. quite wet. You enjoyed it, just 'society' that you conformed to, won't allow you to admit it.

No! That's not true at all! I.. I.. had nightmares about it!

Say what you will.. but certain body parts betray you. It's not cold in here.. why do you have THAT reaction?

.......

That's what I thought. Just embrace it honey. You'll finally be happy.. and complete.

===================================================

Desiree St. James: La la la la la la la...
Ayla St. James: La la la la la la la...

Hey there! I'm scene description guy. I'm here to tell you what you're seeing. What we're watching is two lucious ladies, Ayla and Desiree, skip merrily down the hall in the backstage corridors of Sacrifice from last monday's meeting with Katherine Lockheart. Willy Carter, sniffing out a story, runs up to the pair like an excited dog.

Willy Carter: Ladies, ladies, my interviewer senses are tingling.. you have some dirty little secret.

The two stop, turn to each other, and exchange a puzzle glance. Carter stares at them expectantly.

Desiree St. James: I'm sorry, you're being entirely too specific, could you be more vague please?

Willy Carter: Oh.. well.. I... wait...

He'll get it. Don't worry.

Willy Carter: What...?

Desiree St. James: We all have dirty secrets hombre, you need to be more specific.

Ayla St. James: It's not like we just wander the halls hoping people ask us questions so we can talk about one specific thing.

Willy Carter: I thought that's what all wrestlers do?

Willy looks confused. Ayla just stares blankly at him. Desiree makes a motion of wrapping a rope around her neck and pulling it tight and up. Subtle, huh?

Ayla St. James: Yes, Willy. All day long I walk around just waiting for you to run up and ask me some innane question that could literally be about absolutely anything. What's next? What color panties I have on? Will I take my top off for cash? You're an interviewer Carter ask an actual question.

Willy Carter: I.. Well.. I thought I did... I mean.. uhhh...

Ayla shrugged her shoulders in exasperation. Desiree calmly took the microphone that Carter was holding.

Desiree St. James: I'll just take this, Willy. Now, you have a nice trip now..

Willy Carter: Trip? I'm not going anywheeeerrrrrrrreeeeeeeee...

His voice trailed away because she shoved him into pile of extra boxes. Then she turned to Ayla, holding the microphone.

Desiree St. James: So, now that I have the microphone.. let's try this again.

Ayla St. James: Please. Before I lose any more brain cells.

Desiree St. James: So, you've made your triumphant return to IWF TV Miss St. James! Exactly what have you been doing all this time?

Ayla St. James: Well first and foremost, I got well. Had a little rumbly in my tumbly, and had to step back for a while. I did some soul searching, found out who I am, and now I'm back to basically rofl stomp over everyone in my path and finally get some frickin respect.

Desiree St. James: Well said, now that.... did you just use rofl stomp in a sentence?

Ayla St. James: Yes, and I stand by what I said.

Desiree St. James: So, I see you've just come out of the office of one Katherine Lockheart, the debated head of the Diamonds division, any news to share?

Ayla St. James: Why yes, there is..

Both women turn to Carter, who's slowly getting up off the ground.

Ayla St. James: Taking notes? This is how it's done.

Willy Carter: Alright, alright, I get it. Jeez.

Ayla St. James: Anyway, I'm back, and signed up for team Lockheart to represent her at the next show, finally where the women get their frickin due.

Desiree St. James: That's amazing!

You could not have put more sarcasm on that with a shovel, ladies and gents.

Desiree St. James: Who will be your first challenge?

Ayla St. James: Challenge.. if you can call it that, is none other than.. ugh.. I can't even say her name. That nurse chick.

Desiree St. James: Oh, yea, her. Captain I don't know what the hell I'm doing.

Ayla St. James: Exactly. It's like.. are you serious? You spend all that time in getting an education enough to actually be a registered nurse, learning a tradecraft that will literally stay with you for the rest of your life, and thennnn what? You walk away to wrestle? Are you out of your mind?

Desiree St. James: No, she's flighty, stupid and ultimately irresponsible. Like most of these silly people who have the overinflated idea of what normal means.

Ayla St. James: It's absolutely impossible to take someone like that with any kind of seriousness. You can look all day to make an impact, or have all these lofty dreams about being somebody, but if you're willing to walk away from a career, just to step into the ring because.. why?

Desiree St. James: Crickets.

Ayla St. James: Exactly, she doesn't have anything resembling a reason. I switched careers, I'm not trying to be an actress while wrestling. I was an actor, I played roles, and when that was over, I threw the same kind of passion and dedication into a different career. I am ashamed. It literally shames me to have to share the same ring with this girl. And the ultimately sad part is, she will probably come out here holding a victory over me lord knows how many months ago that was, and pretend that because she has that, she's somebody.

Desiree St. James: One win doesn't make you somebody, Nursey. Having passion does.

Ayla St. James: And you, don't have a lick of it in your whole body. Every other word out of your mouth is a question as to if what you're doing is the right thing for you, or a statement of how awesome you are and how we shouldn't underestimate you. If I can count the number of times you went out and 'fought your little heart out' on one hand, and yet I need my feet to count how many times you half assed your way around the ring, then clearly your career switch was a bad move.

Desiree St. James: In over your head, like all the normal people you think are so important.

Ayla St. James: Think about it sweetcheeks, I'm pretty much a dismal failure as a wrestler. No real championships to speak of, don't exactly have much to point to, and I'm still number 2 on the nCw Starlets wins list. I bleed wrestling, I fight for something.

Desiree St. James: You can't even fight for yourself, let alone anything substantial. Go ahead, tell me we're wrong with a straight face. You can't.

Ayla St. James: And despite being just a glorified tag team wrestler, my name is talked about, people wonder what I'm doing, when I'm going to get back on track and live up to the potential people think I have. They just gloss over you, like you're simply there, for better or for worse.

Desiree St. James: Stings a little, don't it?

Ayla St. James: But hey, if you really have any kind of passion, what we say here won't offend or anger you in any way. I'm betting right now you're pretty livid, and dreaming of all sorts of snappy comebacks that I personally won't give a damn to hear. But go ahead, pretend I'm listening. I'll even mail you a glossy eight by ten to hang up next to the TV. One of my sad face, so you can pretend that every little jab you say hits home.

Desiree St. James: Like most of the rest of your life, it'll be irrelevant crap. But at least it's your irrelevant crap, right?

Ayla St. James: Who rules this division is no concern of mine. My ass makes the company money, and they both know that. My job is secure for quite some time. You?

Desiree St. James: Don't have that luxury.

Ayla St. James: Too long, didn't read, so sad, tell your dad, sucks to be you. But that's just how it is. I'm Ayla St. James...

Desiree St. James: And you're just confused.

Ayla St. James: Kisses, with all my hate...

Desiree St. James: Good night!

By now, Carter is back up, and he swipes the microphone back from Desiree.

Willy Carter: Thank you! Now if you don't mind I can conduct my own interview...

He turns to the camera. Ayla and Desiree look at each other, and then depart in seperate directions.

Willy Carter: Greetings folks, I'm here with..

He turns to face Ayla, who is gone.

Willy Carter: Ayla... St... James.. who is... gone..

He whips around to where Desiree had been standing, to find more empty space.

Willy Carter: Where did she.. where did you.. Oh what the hell...

Cameraman: I think we got it anyway, Willy.

Willy Carter: You think so?

He beams proudly, and adjusts his tie like he just accomplished something important.

Willy Carter: Damn I'm good...

Cameraman: .......Right.

End.