Giant-Killer

[Charity Crowne]

What did I tell you? Flawless.

Keira Hunter thought she had it all in hand. She thought "oh, the only competition I have left is this rich girl, I can take care of her." Psh. As if. Darling, your skin tone is as lacking as your brain, and all it took was the Diamond Cutter to leave you, as always, on the outside looking in. At least it's a familiar place for you, right? Not too far out of your comfort zone? Don't worry your pale little head, Keira. If you're lucky, you won't have to taste it twice. If you're lucky, we'll never meet again. If I'm lucky, we'll never meet again

But it's not about Keira Hunter. It's not even about my opponent this week. No, once again, this is all about me. I told you last week that there was only room for one Crowne Jewel in the Imperial Wrestling Federation, and I meant it. My rise isn't foretold, it isn't preordained, it just is. The tides just are, the sunrise just is, and Charity Crowne ruling supreme...just...is. I'm going to put a face on this tournament IWF can be proud of, because unlike Maxine Valentine...I don't have anything to hide.

Everything I am is right out in the open, for the world to adore. I don't need a mask to hide my shame, because I have none. I don't need rage to hide my sadness, because I have none. I am, unlike so many, comfortable in my skin. Speaking of, why is it that so many of these women look like they're allergic to the sun? Did IWF catch up to the vampire craze a decade late? Anyway, point is, Maxine Valentine is the living picture of wallowing in your own self-pity. Don't believe me, Maxie? Here, I'll walk you through it. I'll even use small words, so you can follow along

You're a big girl. You're not a pretty girl. That upsets you. People tell you you're too big and not pretty. That upsets you more. You hide your face, so people can't tell if you're pretty or not. You hurt people because they're mean to you. Does that sound about right, love? No, you know what, don't answer that, I don't care. I know I'm right, and that's all that matters. One more thing I'm right about? The Diamond Cutter's going to bring you down, just the same as it brought down Keira. All shapes and sizes, it doesn't matter. Loves, it's one size fits all, and it'll fit you like a glove

You're powerful, to be sure. I don't want to be hit by those hams you call hands. But I won't be. I'm too quick for you to handle, on my feet and in my head. I'm three steps ahead, and you're just not swift enough to catch up. Nobody is, really. Being mean and malicious isn't enough. You need brains to go with your brawn, and you're simply too poor to make up the difference. Maybe I'll knock some loose, help you think straight. Maybe it'll be enough to make you wake up and realize...nobody's sick here but you, Maxine. You're worthy of Rampton for how sick you are, but it's just you

I'm no sickness, Maxine. I'm a cure for you, and all the other insipid, gothic, self-involved freaks out there. I'd say I hated to cut you off, but...who am I kidding? I love to cut you off, I LIVE for cutting you off. The only thing that's better than winning is knocking someone else down to do it, and you know what they say...the bigger they are, the harder they fall. You're going to fall so hard, Maxine...and there'll be no one there to catch you. Hate me all you want, doesn't change the fact that I'm perfect...and after Monday, I still will be.

Mwah!

---

We open inside a picture studio, a photo shoot in full swing. At the center of it all is Charity Crowne, sprawled across a chaise lounge couch in a midnight-blue cocktail dress and matching stiletto heels, with a confident smile on her face. The photographer circles around her, urging her on as Charity shifts her pose now and again to accommodate his requests. "Perfect. Perfect! Give me the sass, I love the sass. Okay, now I want to see sultry. Give me those bedroom eyes, that come-hither look."

Charity rolls onto her front, leaning across the top of the couch, and crooks one finger, beckoning the photographer in with a smile and a twinkle in her eyes. He snaps the picture, smiling, and looks up from the camera. "Girl, you were BORN for this! Alright, we've got some good material. Let's take five, I'll review what we've got so far. The IWF website boys are going to love this."

Charity rolls off the couch, standing to her feet with practiced ease and a smirk, bordering on a sneer, on her face. "As they should. They've had a dire lack of proper...material for quite some time, and I'm all too happy to give them relief from their drought. Why would I want to hide perfection?"

The photographer nods eagerly, smiling and applauding Charity. "Exactly, exactly! Half these girls, they'd just as soon rip your head off as stand still for a photo, but you? The camera loves you."

Charity grins at him. "And I love it back." Her gaze shifts slightly, and her eyes narrow. "That break sounds awful pleasant right now. D'you know what? Can we make it ten? I've...some business to attend to." The photographer nods eagerly, and Charity stalks from the shooting area, making her way towards a nondescript-looking man standing near the door to the studio with a clipboard in his hand. The man watches her approach with a level expression on his face, and Charity comes to a stop in front of him, cocking an eyebrow. "Well? What do you want now?"

As the man speaks, his voice is recognizable as the assistant Charity had been harassing prior to her battle royal appearance on Sacrifice. "I just wanted to ensure there were no further...complications regarding your match this week on Sacrifice. You do intend to compete still, correct?"

Charity rolls her eyes, inspecting her nails disdainfully as she replies. "Pfft. Compete implies it'll be a contest. Yes, I plan to humiliate Maxine Valentine. No need to worry, I'm not some porcelain doll that'll shatter at the first sign of trouble. Or did last week not convince you either?"

The assistant puts his hands up in a half-defensive gesture, voice betraying absolutely zero emotion. "After the...confusion regarding the match's scheduling, I just wanted to be completely sure. I brought the match agreement with, if you'd like to review it before signing. We already have Miss Valentine's agreement on file, we're just waiting on you."

Charity snatches the clipboard from his hands, shaking her head. "Well, you can wait a moment longer then, can't you? Hmph...let me see..." her eyes flick over the pages, taking each detail in. "Well, I still say you're getting a bargain for my services, but that's only for the duration of the tournament. When I win, we'll be...renegotiating." She finishes the last page, pursing her lips for a moment before snapping her fingers and outstretching her right hand, not looking up. The assistant looks at her placidly, the barest hints of a grin tugging at his face. Charity waits a moment more before looking up at him, an annoyed glare on her face. "Pen? Can't sign if I haven't anything to sign with, now can I?"

The assistant nods, pulling a pen from his pocket. "But of course. Here you are." Charity's hand snaps out, taking the pen from his hand, and she signs the contract with a dramatic flourish before handing the pen and clipboard back to the assistant. He nods, pocketing the pen again and tucking the clipboard under his arm. "Thank you very much, Miss Crowne. As always, we'll contact you if we have any other issues that need addressing."

Charity nods, lip curling again. "Right. Now, if you don't mind, I've a photo shoot to complete and millions to dazzle, and I can't exactly do that while I'm jawing with an assistant. Cheers." She makes a dismissive hand gesture at the assistant before turning and walking back towards the couch. The assistant watches her walk away, shaking his head slowly and pulling the door out of the studio back open. He disappears through the doorway as Charity drapes herself over the couch again.

She flutters her eyelashes at the photographer, who's quickly dashed back over, camera in hand, and smiles at him. "Oh, Mister Photographer...I'm ready for my close-up." As the camera goes off, the flash fills the entire screen before slowly fading to black.