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Post by Laura Phoenix - HBIC on Jun 18, 2020 20:45:05 GMT -5
United Championship Match Bella Madison vs. Alanah O'Connell (c)
Roleplays will be due by Sunday June 28th, 2020 at 11:59pm Eastern
Minimum is 500 Maximum is 6000
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Post by Bella Madison on Jun 30, 2020 2:40:31 GMT -5
Alanah,
This is a letter you may never see. But I need to get it out. I wanted to thank you because.. how do I explain this? Well without sounding completely selfish, when you first enter Jack's life I didn't know what to make of you. But since then you become one of my best friends, practically a sister. It's strange cuz growing up with Jack yeah it was like I had a little brother but it was an odd relationship. As you know I only really grew up with just myself my mom and Nick. Yeah, I grew up with a lot of love around me but I never knew what it was like to have a sister. And as much as I did it one to like you at first you were quick to accept me as a friend. That's rare! What's awesome about it that you quickly became my best friend.
Now here we are a year later, I met Mal, we fell in love and it feels like I have you to thank for that. Your kindness and understanding led me to stretch my wings. It's almost apropos that I'm writing this in the very book that you gave me. I saved the very last page on purpose because I wanted you to see it. Right now though I feel so inadequate about even possibly showing it to you. We're a lot alike, you and I and that's why I love. When you came into Jack's world you were like a breath of fresh air and at first, I didn't like it but now... I can't imagine what it would have been like if you weren't. Maybe in a couple of weeks, I'll show this to you especially when I ask you if you would be my maid of honor. I don't know when the wedding will be.... but I know I want you to play a very big role and when I marry your brother.
Either way what stands in our future at Destiny and where I've been dreading it and in a way, I look forward to it since the day I met you. You're one of the most talented performers to ever show in PWS and I should know I've seen quite a bit of talent come and go since I was a child. There's a reason why Uncle Levi constantly sings your Praises, because you are the future. No matter what happens at Destiny whether you continue your iconic reign as United hurt by some grace of God I managed to the dethrone you just know that I never want you to ever give up on your dream. You surprised your brothers, surprised me, surprised everybody. You are going to go on to do such amazing things, no matter the outcome of this match. We’re going to kill it like we should have done back at Demon’s Run before everything happened.
I just hope our friendship, our sisterhood and when we get Mattie back, the Unholy Trinity remains strong forever.
-Bella
Bella Madison sits back on the couch and sighs heavily before closing the book. Glancing down at a half-sleeping Luka, crashed out right next to her.
“What am I gonna do Luka? ....do I really have it in me to take on my best friend and become the United Champ?”
Luka perks up as she hears the door open and we see Malachi enter into the room. The pup barks loudly as he glares at her and walks over and scratches her head before turning to Bella and giving her a kiss on her cheek. “Remote issue handled, she avoided yet another bullet.” he glares down at her, “Lucky shit.”
Luka’s tongue just lulls out of her mouth as she goes belly up, “That’s her way of saying “Thank you daddy..now scratch my belly.””
Mal rolls his beautiful blue eyes before reaching down and giving Luka a couple of quick scratches, “You make her talk like Sven again and I may divorce you before we even get married.”
“I’d like to see you make that work.” Bella says with a smirk.
Mal notices the book sitting on the table, “More diary writing?”
“Sometimes it’s the only way to calm my brain.” she sighs, “Actually a note to your sister, if she still talks to me after Destiny.”
“Bells...you can’t be thinking that she will really hate you after the match that was supposed to happen MONTHS ago! She’s been excited, you’ve been excited, you both get close to that moment and then...”
“Then I go right into a shame spiral and a fear that I’m going to lose everything. And I know damn well if I take it easy int he match, I will never hear the end of it from her and then from you and then from Levi and then my mother and if he feels like he wants to actually TALK to me at that particular moment, Nick and the list goes on and on and on and on...and I’m fucking just...I’m over it at this point.” she looks up at him and he gives her that look, “Stop it.”
“Stop what? Marveling at watching your brain work into overdrive? Because that’s exactly what is happening again. You’re friends, about to be practically sisters, no matter who comes out of this match with the W, you will smile, laugh and be a horrible influence on her.”
Bella leans her head into him for a moment, “I’m not that horrible of an influence...if you’d look around there are far worse in our crazy family.”
“I know that. It’s gonna be fine mo grah. And the start of something fucking amazing for you.”
“Actually the fucking amazing started March 23rd, 2019” she leans up and kisses him, “Everyone else and everything else is just a perk.”
Mal grabs his head, “Woah...I just had a rush of ego”
“You’re welcome!” Bella laughs before standing up from the couch, “I’m gonna grab a shower.”
She slyly moves around the couch, and pinches his ass on the way through causing him to jump a bit. As soon as he hears the click to the bathroom door close, he jumps over the couch and grabs the book. Luka looks at him for a moment and gruffs, “Not a word of this to her.”
Just before he cracks it open.
“.....Malachi Noah O’Connell.” he drops the book and stands up and looks right at her like he got his hands caught in the cookie jar. Before he can speak though, his jaw drops as Bella stands there with her arms crossed, an amused look on her face in nothing but a towel. “And just what the hell were you about to do?”
“Uhhh...I...I completely forgot.” he says staring and barely blinking.
“And here I was about to invite you to join me...” she says with a small pout, she turns and as soon as she gets to the other side of the door we see the towel fly across the room. “How strong is that will power?”
Mal sucks in air like he forgot to breathe for a moment, “Ohhh not that strong.” And with that he practically hurdles the couch and into the bathroom.
~*~*~Fly Like You Know You Can~*~*~
Spread those wings, Let them ignite And step into your light, child. For you are Phoenix Reborn
“Destiny 2019 was where it all began. The lights went out, and when they came back on I stood across the ring from Levi Russow and I proceeded to rock the entire world with one single chair shot.”
We see Bella standing in the middle of what has already been set up as the Destiny arena. Usually we see her looking fancy with some sort of leather clothing but instead it’s simple jean shorts, sneakers, a nice white top that slides just right off her shoulders, glasses on her face and her long blonde hair pulled lightly back. She looks around as if she is trying to remember what a year ago looked like...one that feels like forever ago. Some shit has happened since then.
“Since then....it’s all kind’ve been biding and waiting for a chance. This match was supposed to happen back at Demon’s Run. That was supposed to be a moment for both of us, the two crazy besties facing off with one another for that United Title and then....that fear. That unadulterated fear. I hadn’t felt anything like that since the night in Paris...the night that Syn showed up. There aren't many that know that feeling but there are a lot that understand. At Demon’s Run, I felt like the entire world was closing in on me, I couldn’t breathe....and inside my head I was screaming at myself to knock it off but I couldn’t. I didn’t want to disappoint anyone...but I did. Hell, I even feel responsible for Mal losing that night. That is the first time I am saying that outloud.”
She shakes her head and drops it, looking down at her feet and takes a deep breath and lets it out loudly.
“And I know damn well they are all gonna tell me to forget about it, it wasn’t my fault...but that is part of what happens in my head every fucking day since I was 12. I battle this- This UNKNOWN thing that is stuck in my head. I have tried to find a way to try and figure out what the fuck it is but it’s wall after wall.”
She places her hand over her mouth, trying to find the right words. She moves her hand up and taps at her temple like she’s trying to wake her brain for a moment.
“But since then, I have started to realize that maybe....maybe I should just let the demons out. I really realized it after I went bell to bell 20 minute Time Limit Draw with Heather Haze. My ass was saved by the bell...I’m not gonna deny that one. She had me dead to rights, on my back. Next time though, it’s not gonna be like that. It’s not because I'm seeing myself become comfortable with the idea of having to go to war with my friends and family to get our friend Mattie back. But that’s after...”
The pacing stops, she sinks her hands deep into her pockets and smiles brightly at the camera. Honesty shining from her eyes.
“Alanah O’Connell is perhaps one of the toughest individuals out there. She’s not easily beatable, she wouldn’t be the longest reigning champion in the history of APEX if that was the case. She’s pound for pound the toughest out of any of us and that includes Mack McKane. She’s also the one that has been the most vulnerable out of any of us during this entire crazy ass pandemic. We have had to take steps and measures to make sure that this can happen. I want nothing more than to protect my friend because I cannot afford to lose anymore....but at the same time, it’s those same friends that I am standing across the ring from at Destiny. The one that if I am gonna see my first title reign ever? I need to be faster and smarter. I have to be on my toes and think without thinking and I have to do this all without a moment of hesitation.”
Her face drops for a moment cause she knows damn well what she has to do.
“Because the moment I hesitate, she will see it, expose it and all my chances go flying out the window.”
A growl grows from her throat as she grabs the side of her head like it’s one of the hardest things she has ever had to do.
“This is the hardest part. I have to be the one to do it. I have to be the one that stands across the ring from her, give her the hardest match of her life...I’m also the one that needs to dethrone the Irish Rose. I hate that I even have to say those words but there it is. I need to beat Alanah and take that United Championship. She has NOTHING to prove anymore with it, that record will stand for YEARS to come. The only one that may come close to the days would be Mack provided he survives the final battle with Syn.”
She stops herself and leans against the closest thing and looks up at the lights for a moment, a sad moment for her.
“Usually these things are so much easier, usually I would find some weakness to exploit...but to do that to Alanah??? I love her way too much for that. But this is happening, there is gonna be no more games, there’s gonna be no more nervous breakdowns. I’m gonna beat my best friend in the middle of that ring and pray to whatever God, Goddess...whatever, that she can forgive me for what I have to do. And that no one takes it personally and I destroy my life that I have come to love.”
And with one final breath her head snaps back, her clear blue eyes gazing heavily ahead. She smiles almost maliciously.
“Destiny is gonna be one for the record books. Bank on it.”
And with that she walks across the ring and hops out of the ring and strides through the entrance and out of sight.
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Post by Alanah O'Connell on Jun 30, 2020 4:34:57 GMT -5
June 27 Las Vegas
“I’m so happy you decided to stay for a while, Mama,” Alanah O’Connell said happily, smiling over at her mother from where she was sitting on the couch in the hotel suite she was sharing with Jack Russow while PWS was temporarily located in Las Vegas. The O’Connell matriarch, Aileen, was sitting in an armchair across from the couch with Pip nestled in her lap and both Lady and Potato lounging at her feet. A full tea service was set up on the low table between them, and both women held cups of warm Earl Grey in their hands. “To be honest, I was kind of worried you weren’t going to be able to make it for the wedding in the first place.”
At that moment, Jack came dashing out from the bedroom, vaulting over the back of the couch and settling in beside Alanah with a cheesy grin across his face as he slid an arm around her shoulders. “Well, guess it’s a good thing we know a guy with a private jet and a metric buttload of cash, eh?”
Alanah just rolled her eyes with an exasperated smile while Aileen laughed lightly. “That does remind me, I really should thank your father properly for doing that for me,” she said. “I wanted to at the reception, but I didn’t get the opportunity.”
“Bcause he got stupid drunk and started trying to get people to re-enact scenes from The Pirates of Penzance?” Jack said.
Alanah nearly snorted tea through her nose as she laughed. “Oh my GOSH! I thought Sierra was going to kill him on the spot with the way she was glaring at him!”
“Meanwhile, Lach nearly fell into a potted plant, cause he was laughing so hard!”
All three of them started cracking up, remembering all the fun they had at Lachlan and Sierra’s wedding reception. “I swear, I haven’t laughed so hard since your father and I’s wedding,” Aileen said, wiping tears from the corners of her eyes. “It felt good, after all the uncertainty this year has brought on.”
“Well, I’m gonna head out and pick up our lunch. Give you ladies a bit of quality time together.” Jack leaned over to kiss Aileen’s cheek, and then gave Alanah a short but sweet kiss on the lips before bouncing off the couch and to the door of the hotel room. He slipped on his shoes, gave them both an exaggerated bow while they giggled, and then he was out the door.
Alanah sighed happily as she sank back into the couch, and Aileen gave her daughter a knowing grin. “That boy better get his arse in gear.”
An eyebrow quirked over one of Alanah’s brown eyes. “What do you mean, Mama?”
“I figured he would have put a ring on your finger some time ago.”
Alanah’s eyes went wide with shock as she stared at her mother. “...what?”
The elder O’Connell merely sipped her tea, giving Pip a pat on the head. “Alanah, darling...it’s obvious to anyone with a set of eyes that Jack is clearly head over heels for you. As I know you are for him. The two of you have been near inseparable for almost two years now. To be quite honest...I would have thought he was going to propose at Christmas, when we had that big family gathering. It would have been perfect.”
Alanah’s mouth gaped open, looking like a hooked fish. “You would actually….approve if Jack were to propose to me?”
“Well, of course. Why wouldn’t I? He’s charming, kind, very handsome…” She gave a little wink and a chuckle. “And he absolutely adores you. The way he looks at you when you’re not looking at him...it’s like something out of a romance movie. I know that boy would move mountains for you.”
“But you don’t think we’re too young?” Alanah asked.
Aileen waved a hand. “There’s no such thing. Your father and I were only 17 when we first met, and we were married by 18. Sometimes, when you know...you just know.”
Alanah stared down into her tea cup, seeing her reflection on the surface of her drink. “I guess...But I don’t want Jack to feel like he’s being pressured into it because of Lach getting married or Mal and Bella getting engaged. If he was going to propose...I would want him to do it because he really, truly wants to marry me.”
“And would you say yes, if that were the case?”
She looked back up at her mom with the most confident, heartwarming smile gracing her face. “In a heartbeat. I love him so much, Mama.”
Aileen gave a knowing smile as she reached out and took her daughter’s hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Then just give it time. I’m sure that everything will work itself out.”
Over Alanah’s shoulder, she saw Jack’s face peering through a crack in the door. His hand was in the middle of grabbing his wallet that he had left on the side table, but right now it looked like he was frozen in place. A smile stretched across his face as he stared at them, but Aileen subtly motioned for him to quietly make his exit. He slowly closed the door, as Alanah was distracted with refilling her mother’s cup. “You always know just what to say to give me hope, Mama.”
Aileen patted Alanah’s cheek. “Of course, that’s what mothers do.”
Alanah handed the cup back to her, before a slightly concerned look overtook her face. “I think I’m going to need a lot of that for Destiny.”
“Whatever for? I thought you and Bella were looking forward to this match.”
“Oh believe me, we are. After what happened at Demons Run, we were gutted that we had to put it off. I mean, obviously I didn’t want to face Bella when she wasn’t at 100%. I wanted to know that the two of us were ready to put on the match of a lifetime.” She bit at her bottom lip, worrying it between her teeth. “But the more I keep thinking about it, the more I worry about having to fight my best friend while our other best friend is out there somewhere, probably being tortured at the hands of that...that vile…” Her brown eyes filled with tears and she sniffled a little.
Placing her cup on the table, Aileen gently moved Pip from her lap down onto the chair while she stood up and went to sit at Alanah’s side, wrapping an arm around her daughter’s shoulders. “Oh, my dearest...I know your heart is hurting so much. You feel like you can’t go on until your friend Mattie is safe.”
Alanah nodded wordlessly, a tear falling from her lashes and rolling down her cheek. “I just feel like we’re betraying her by carrying on like everything is OK. Every time I go backstage, I just expect to see her come running to me with some beautiful new design...”
Aileen gently cupped Alanah’s cheeks in her hand and brought her face up so the two women were locking eyes. “I want you to hear me, a leanbh. You are not betraying her. You are honouring her. You keep fighting every day. You are showing those that kidnapped her that you will not be intimidated by their fear tactics. And soon, Mattie will be brought home safe and sound. Do you really think she would want you all to be sitting around and feeling sorry for her?”
“Well...no. But we’ve all been feeling so helpless. Mack’s been out there searching, and he insisted that he go it alone.”
“You have to trust him. You know that he wants Mattie home just as much as any of you.”
“Probably even more so.”
“Then trust in him.” Aileen leaned forward and softly kissed Alanah’s forehead. “You’ve always had such a kind heart. It makes me wonder just how you got involved in a sport like this.”
Alanah laughed slightly. “You know, I ask myself that same thing every single day. But once I did, I really started to understand why Lach and Mal love it so much. It’s such an incredible rush. And if I hadn’t gotten involved with wrestling, I don’t think I ever would have met Jack, or Bella, or Mack...any of my friends.”
“And knowing Bella like you do...do you think she would want you to come into this match with any hesitation?”
Alanah shook her head vehemently. “No. We’ve wanted this for too long to not give our all. She would never forgive me.”
“Then give your all. Go out to that ring and show everyone just why the two of your are the future. And once it’s all said and done...I believe that your friendship will endure, no matter what.”
Alanah smiled. “I know it will.”
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“Blood is thicker than water.”
A somewhat dramatic statement for the normally sweet and demure Irish Rose, but it certainly was an attention-grabber. As the scene came into focus, it showed the current (and longest-reigning) PWS Apex United Champion Alanah O’Connell seated in a plush white armchair against a pale blue curtain used as a backdrop. Dressed in a black floral patterned dress with a short-sleeved white cardigan layered overtop, her treasured championship belt draped across her lap, she smoothed the hem of her skirt across her knee as she crossed one leg over the other before fixing her big brown eyes on the camera.
“Funny saying, isn’t it? After all, family is obviously very important in the PWS universe. But I think a lot of people really misconstrue the meaning of it. After all, they only have half of the quote. The entirety of it is, ‘The blood of the Covenant is thicker than the water of the womb.’ Meaning, the family bonds you choose have the potential to be far stronger than anything in the world. Now, before anyone twists my words...I love my family. My mother, my brothers...they mean everything to me. And that’s something that my father instilled in all of us before he passed. He always reminded us that family is everything.”
She glanced down for a brief moment, trying to collect her thoughts. “But sometimes, family isn’t always the one you’re born into. Sometimes, you go out into the world and you find family. You meet people that have a deep, meaningful impact in your life. You meet people that you could never imagine living without. And in PWS, I have found those people. Jack, the love of my life. Levi, the best second father I could have ever wished for. Emma, a woman I deeply admire and respect. My wonderful little Rosie. And my smart-as-a-whip Charlie. Mattie, Mack, Slappy, Cameron, Laura, Nick, Jesse, Daniel, Audrey….I think you all see my point. In PWS, I have found the biggest, happiest family I could have ever dreamed of.” She smiled, reaching up to brush back a lock of her blond hair behind her ear. “And of course, I found my best friend, Bella. Now, anyone who knows our story knows that she and I didn’t exactly start off on the right foot. But over time, she and I became close. Friends, to best friends, to sisters. Even before Bella and Mal got engaged, she and Mattie became the sisters I had always wished for growing up. We all became so close, much to the chagrin of the men in our life.” She let out a little giggle. “And along the way, Bella and I started to get noticed. Our in-ring careers began to take off like a rocket. Soon enough, the two of us were being talked about as part of the ‘new future’ of PWS. Then again, that’s kind of a given with Bella, seeing her family lineage. She was practically raised in the ring. Me, on the other hand...well, I more or less stumbled into it. But I worked hard, and soon enough I was the PWS United Champion. My very first title...and I wasn’t even a year into my career. Even my brothers can’t make that claim. And then, before long, I became the longest-reigning United Champion. And now? I have held this belt longer than any other champion in this company to date. Slowly but surely, I have staked my claim as being one of the best this company has to offer. And that’s why I am so eager for this match against Bella.”
She brushed her fingers along the nameplate on the front of the belt, the engraving a familiar feeling to her now. “PWS is filled to the brim with legendary families. Russow. Madison. O’Neil. They’ve all worked hard to attain that status, and it’s rightly deserved. My brothers and I, on the other hand... we started right from the bottom. We fought and bled for our place at the table, just like every one of the legends did before us. We’ve now cemented our own family legacy beyond a shadow of a doubt...but there’s still that little voice at the back of my mind, taunting me…telling me that to truly make my mark in this company, I need to face - and defeat - my best friend. See, Bella’s got a lot to live up to. She’s saddled with an incredible family legacy. No matter how hard she works to prove that she belongs in this industry under her own merit, there will always be people who think that she only got to where she is because of her family.” Alanah shook her head. “But I know better. I know how hard Bella works. I know the training she puts in. I know her dedication, her determination, her strength. She is one of the most resilient, tenacious, and most competitive out of anyone on this roster. Hell, out of anyone in the entirety of professional wrestling. And that’s why I have to beat her. Because if I’m able to overcome my own personal feelings, step into the ring with my best friend and I’m able to defeat her?”
She rose up from the chair, sliding the belt over her shoulder and stepping towards the camera, a laser-like intensity emanating from her dark eyes as she stared down the lens. “Then I will know that I am well on my way to becoming one of the greatest performers this company has ever seen.”
With that emphatic statement, Alanah gave a little half-smirk as she turned on her heel and walked out of the frame as the camera faded out to black.
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