Adventure Time! ...is cancelled.

[Ayla St. James]

Let's get one thing straight before we begin.

I... am.. a... frickin GREAT ACTRESS.

RAWWWWWRRWRRRRARRRRERWRR Angry...

AYLA SMASH SILLY COSPLAYER. AYLA STRONGEST THERE IS.

Ok, that was all just in fun. But seriously, I was on a soap opera and in three commercials, how is that fair to judge my acting ability? Not like it matters at this point, doubtful at this point I can get a job in Hollywood as anything more than a pair of tits with a line here or there. There goes my dream of being one of those crime techs on CSI, right?

Le sigh, as the french say.

In all seriousness, while I wish that Aly and I got to have our super awesome, she's the Diamonds champion bash, it didn't happen, and it's time to pick ourselves up and move along. That's the great thing about being a wrestler, as long as you can keep going, there's always tomorrow. Soon, it catches up with you, the bruises, the soreness, the nagging pains that just won't quit, but you fight through it all until you can't anymore, because you love what you do. Even when the industry tears you down and chews you up and spits you out, you keep moving forward.

I was thrown into a pit of venemous snakes one night, and while there was hospital people there to save my life, it still hurt like hell. I could have quit that night, and nobody would have blamed me. But I'm still standing here, because of that love.

I look at this match, and I see more of the same. A guy like Everyman, who never gave up even when the entirely world counted him out. Spike, who's survived hell an infinite number of times to stay moving forward. Rob, who emerged from complete darkness to rise to the greatest heights his own way. Everyone in this match has one thing in common, perserverance.

While you, Tifa, haven't had the same kind of life or death trials that some others had, the promise in you shows that you possess the same kind of attitude.

You remind me of someone. Most people would expect me to say you remind me of myself when I was younger, but frankly a young me was probably too whiney and bitchy for her own good. Her name was Carol, and she and I were up for the lead role in our theatre production of Annie get your gun. I got the part, mainly because the casting director wanted in my pants. But everyone assumed that it was because I had slept with the director. I had, once, months before, before we even knew what play we were doing. Before he was the "director". But the time didn't matter to anyone. Nor did they care that he had nothing to do with who was in the play. I had fucked him, everything else was irrelevant. Suddenly I was the dumb bitch who couldn't act who fucked guys for roles. They all turned on me.

Except for, you guessed it, Carol. I once asked her why..

"Because, when I look into your eyes, I don't see the "please believe me" desire of someone who is lying. I see the truth, and the hurt that comes with people accepting the lie as the reality, and your reality as the lie."

That's what I see when I look at you. Purity.. not a naive innocence like some people, but a real genuine belief in every word that passes your lips. A lot of people would hear you say how happy you are for Jessica and assume that you're covering your cattiness with sugar. They'd whisper to each other how it's only a matter of time before your jealousy of her success tears the team apart. They'd wring their hands like Snidely Whiplash, waiting in anticipation for the epic meltdown they want to see coming.

Who's Snidely Whiplash? Seriously? You have to be Canadian to know who Dudley Doright is? Unbelievable. How you kids grew up without Rocky and Bullwinkle I'll never know.

Long story long, I'm looking forward to wrestling you again Tifs. You're a fresh challenge every time, and I hope that I inspire in you the same kind of passion you're bringing out in me. Keep your chin up about your personal problems too, everything will resolve itself in time.

Kisses,

Love Ayla.

---------------------------------------

Huh.. that's odd.

What?

{Ayla absently poked the bruise on her ribs. In the few weeks since she'd gotten it, it had never quite completely diminished. It would fade, then redarken, so naturally she assumed she simply kept hurting it in her daily life. It didn't bother her much. Some days it was a little tender, others she'd never notice it was there if not for seeing it when changing. Now it seemed like it was spreading south.}

Nothing, really. Bruise hasn't gone away yet.

That's odd. Does it hurt?

No. Not at all. Just kinda there. Guess a two piece is out.

Eh, little concealer and everything should be fine.

{She shot him a teasing grin that made him stop brushing his teeth and stare back at her.}

....What?

Concealer? Something you want to tell me? Why Mr. Braddock what do you do on the weekends?

I.. used to wrestle. In facepaint... every week.

...There was a joke there.

I know.

You killedededed it.

I know.

Murderededed it.

I know.

In cold blood..

Unfortunately.

You jerk..

Yep.

{Long pause as both continued their morning bathroom routine.}

I love you.

Ditto.

Seriously.. make up AND a ghost reference? You are a woman. Maybe I should...

{She was cut off by the ringing of the phone. She bounced out of the bathroom. Mmmm, boob jiggle. Sorry, sorry, promised to be professional. She answered the phone.}

Sex hotline! ..Oh, hey Spike. I'm good.. She what? When?... Ok, I'll be there.

{Ayla hung the phone up as Kyle appeared in the doorway.}

Beach cancelled?

Yea.

Emergency?

Yes.

{He looked at her, and she looked back at him. An understanding passed between them, and suddenly they were hurrying to get ready for something else entirely. Their zaney planned adventure for this weeks promo derailed by friends in need. Everything else forgotten, including a little bruise.}