The Glimmer Sisters vs. Xander Valentine & Selena Frost

[Kemal Yilmaz]

SCW World Tag Team Championship

2 RP Limit for singles

3500 Word Per RP

Deadline: 11:59:59 pm ET Saturday, March 21, 2026

[Xander Valentine]

1 of 2 || Echoes of Trauma, Chapter 8: Ashfall

[SnowQueenSCW]

OOC: Takes place following Deanna's first roleplay for the PPV (so read that first).

Scars of a Fascade

”The Last Place to Look...”

Liam’s Bar and Grill
Nome, Alaska
March 15th, 2026
2:33am

The bell over the door hadn’t rung in over an hour, yet it still echoed in Selena’s brain - a phantom sound - like the rest of this place. Like the rest of this town. Like her lover’s voice, calling out her name...

Nome had always been like that to her, though. Long before SCW, long before Deanna, long before she was even the Snow Queen. And it would be long after her. Nome would be the same. A town frozen in time like it’s wintry season. Quiet in a way that wasn’t peaceful. Still in a way that wasn’t calm. The kind of quiet that carried memories whether you wanted it to or not.

The kind of quiet that never really let you forget who you used to be.

Selena sat at the far end of the bar inside Liam’s Bar and Grill, her elbows resting lightly against the worn wood, fingers loosely wrapped around a glass of water that had long since gone untouched. Condensation had stopped forming, the ice had melted - It was just water now.

Flat. Still. Lifeless. Appropriate... she thought to herself.

The overhead lights had been dimmed since last call, chairs were flipped upside down on tables across the room with the legs sticking up like broken limbs, and the faint smell of grease, old beer, and cleaning solution lingered in the air. Somewhere in the back, a refrigerator hummed - a low, constant sound that filled the space just enough to remind her she wasn’t completely alone, despite the last stragglers of customers having long stumbled their way out, probably ambling the few streets Nome had to get to their homes.

The Snow Queen, despite the few noises she heard and the knowledge of others in the pub... didn’t change anything about her feelings. Because alone was exactly what she felt – alone was exactly what she was.

And exactly what she had chosen.

Her jaw tightened slightly at that thought, her fingers tightening around the glass for just a moment before relaxing again. No. Not chosen. she tried to tell herself. Necessary.

That’s what this was. That’s what all of this was! Necessary.

Her eyes drifted toward the mirror behind the bar, catching her reflection in the dim light. The same icy blue eyes. The same controlled expression. The same face that had stared down champions, legends, entire locker rooms, monsters and Executioners without flinching.

‘The Snow Queen’, ‘The Face of SCW’, ‘The Defier of Worlds’... ‘The Blue-Eyed Devil’

She almost laughed at the last one, choosing instead, to exhale through her nose.

“Some devil.” she muttered under her breath. “If only CHBK could see me now. He’d laugh in my face.”
“Something funny about nursing water for three hours?”

The voice came from behind her - familiar, steady, worn with age. Selena didn’t turn right away.

“I’m not nursing it.” she replied quietly. “I’m ignoring it.”

There was the sound of a towel being set down in response. Then footsteps that drew closer to her. It wasn’t long before she spotted the large man. Her adoptive uncle, Liam, came into view beside her, leaning against the bar. His hair had gone more gray than black over the years, his face lined with time and hard-earned experience. But his eyes, Selena noted - those hadn’t changed. They were still sharp and observant. Still seeing more than most people wanted him to.

“You’ve been ignoring a lot more than that, kiddo.” Liam said.
Selena finally glanced at him, her expression neutral. “You close yet?”
“Closed an hour ago.”
“Then why are you still here?”

Liam gave a small, humorless smile. “Because my niece showed up unannounced, sat at my bar all night, didn’t order a damn thing except water, and looks like she’s about five seconds away from either breaking something… or breaking herself.”

Selena looked away again. “I’m fine.”

“Mmhmm. I’ve heard that before, with that same tone.” That sound alone said everything. Reaching over, Liam took the glass from her hand before she could react, dumping the contents into the sink behind the bar. The empty glass clinked softly as he set it upside down.

“You don’t come all the way back to Nome if you were ‘fine’.” he said simply. “Ya ain’t got enough love for this place to do that.”

Selena’s shoulders tensed slightly, but she didn’t respond right away. Her gaze drifted toward the far wall instead - the one with the old photos. Fishing crews. Snowstorms. Gold pans held up with hopeful smiles.

Her father wasn’t on that wall. He never had been.

“Didn’t feel like New York.” she finally said after a moment. “Too much noise for me right now.”

“Uh huh – Pretty sure there’s a bunch of closer, cheaper places to go for peace and quiet. Like a nice cottage or Air BnB. Ain’t you rich as hell? Kinda makes me want to ask – you’d feel like New York? Or didn’t feel like facing it?”

Selena’s eyes narrowed slightly at the balding man. “Careful.” she warned.
“Or what?” Liam shot back, not missing a beat as he dusted his hands off his dark-green apron. “You’ll storm out? Go hide somewhere quieter? Like your dad’s mine?”

Selena turned to him then, a flicker of something sharper behind her eyes. “I’m not hiding.”

Liam held her gaze, not did he flinch or back down.

“You came all the way back here.” he said evenly. “To a town that used to spit on your name. To a bar that’s just far enough off the map that nobody from your world’s gonna come looking.” He held your gaze. “You’re hiding.”

Selena’s jaw tightened again. For a moment, she thought about arguing back. Maybe even snap a little like she did on Breakdown. Or maybe shut him down the way she had shut down countless others.

Instead… she could only breathe a response. “I needed space.”

Liam nodded once, like he’d expected that answer. “Hell of distance. Question is: Space from who?”

Selena didn’t hesitate at that one. “Everyone.”
It was a lie and they both knew it. Liam tilted his head slightly. “Try again.”

The platinum-blonde exhaled sharply, running a hand through her hair before leaning back slightly against the bar.

“You already know.”
“I want to hear you say it.”

Silence stretched between them. How long it stayed there, Selena wasn’t sure, but the former world champion was the first to break it. “Deanna.”

It was the one thing she could get out: A name. The name of the person that Selena could see everywhere she looked, even in the glass of water that had, until a moment ago, been mostly full.

Liam studied her for a moment longer before nodding slowly. “Alright.” he said. “The Mrs. Now we’re getting somewhere.”
“She’s not the ‘mrs.’ anymore.” Selena sighed. “Thanks to me.”
“You love her?”
“Yes.” Selena answered without thinking.
“You want to be with her last I checked.”
“Yes.”
“And she wants to be with you?”
“Y-” Selena stopped herself. “I’m not sure if that is the case. Probably won’t be soon enough.”
“Till I see otherwise – she’s Mrs. Frost.” Liam shrugged. “Nice girl. Quite the looker. You got good tastes, kid. Even if I don’t get the whole girl-girl love thing still. To each their own though.”

Selena’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Don’t.”
“Don’t what?” Liam asked knowingly.
“Turn this into one of your talks.”

Liam snorted lightly. “You’ve been sitting in my bar for three hours. You walked into my place looking like the world’s about to come crashing down on you.” He leaned in slightly. “You don’t get to tell me not to talk. Especially to my niece.”

Selena didn’t respond. Because she didn’t have a response. And that, more than anything, was telling. Before her, Liam sighed, reaching for a clean glass, more out of habit than necessity.

“What happened?” he asked.

Selena’s expression hardened instantly at the question. “I can’t-”
“I didn’t ask for details.” Liam interjected. “I’m not asking what you did.” he clarified. “Or what you’re planning. That’s your business. I’m asking why you’re sitting here like you just burned your whole life down.”

The young woman looked away again, her reflection catching in the mirror. “Because I might have.” she whispered, not sure if her uncle had heard her or not.

To his credit, Liam didn’t react immediately nor did he rush to fill the silence. He just let it sit.

“Does she know?” he asked eventually.
“No.” Selena sighed. “But I suspect she’s going to figure it out.”
“Going to tell her?”
“I can’t.”
“Can’t… or won’t?”
Her eyes snapped back to his. “Can’t.” she emphasized.

There was something final in that. Something immovable. It made Liam study her for a long moment, then nodded slowly. “Alright.” he said. “Then I’m gonna say something you’re not gonna like.”

Selena let out a quiet, humourless breath. “Of course you are. Me liking it or not has never stopped you before.”

“You need to talk to her.”

The answer, absurd in its simplicity, caused a laugh from Selena - short, sharp, completely devoid of any humour.

“Yeah. That’s not happening.” she replied.
“Why not?”
“Because there’s nothing to talk about.”
“That’s a lie.”
“It’s not.”
“You’re sitting here hiding from her—”

“I’m not hiding!” The words came out louder than she intended, echoing slightly in the empty bar. Liam didn’t flinch – not the first time people in his pub had yelled at him after decades of business.

Hearing herself, Selena closed her eyes briefly, exhaling through her nose before lowering her voice again. “I’m not hiding from her.” she said, quieter now. “I’m… keeping her out of it.”

Liam raised an eyebrow. “That supposed to sound better?”

“It’s the truth.”
“Is it?” the pub-owner tilted his head. “Doesn’t sound like it.”

Selena didn’t answer – mostly because even she wasn’t entirely sure anymore.

Liam leaned back slightly, crossing his arms. “You think shutting her out’s gonna protect her?” he asked.

“Yes.” she stated. “Least then the blame is all on me and not her.” She lifted her head to see the unconvinced expression and burly, crossed arms of her uncle. “You don’t understand.” she shook her head.

“Then help me understand.”
“I can’t.”
“Because you won’t explain?”

“Because I CAN’T explain!” she snapped, frustration bleeding through now. “Not without making it worse. Not without dragging her into something she doesn’t need to be part of.”

Her breathing had picked up slightly now, the words coming faster. “She’s already dealing with enough. Polly, that title, everything going on over there - she doesn’t need this on top of it. She doesn’t need me.”

“Stop.” The single word cut through her like a knife. “You don’t get to decide what she needs,” he said firmly.

Selena’s eyes flickered. “I’m trying to protect her.”

“And I’m telling you, Selena.” Liam replied, stressing the name. “That shutting her out like this? That’s not protection. That’s you making a choice for her without giving her a say.”

Selena looked away again, her jaw clenched tight. “She wouldn’t understand.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I do.”
“You think you do.” Liam corrected. “And even if she doesn’t... Even if she hates it, even if she fights you on it - don’t you think she deserves the chance to?”

The question hit deeper than Selena thought it would, causing her pale, slender fingers to curk slightly against the bar.

“She’s going to lose me because of this.” she said quietly. “Or I’m going to lose her.”

There it was. The real fear. She could take on everything but not... not losing Deanna again – but she had no choice...


Liam’s expression softened, albeit just slightly. “Or...” he offered carefully, “She might not.”

Selena shook her head. “You don’t know what I’m dealing with. What I’ve done.”

“No.” Liam admitted. “I don’t.” He leaned forward again, resting his hands on the bar. “But I know you. I know how you think. I know how you fight. You’re like your dad, you know that? And I know that when you decide something has to be done… you don’t stop until it’s done.”

A faint, bitter smile touched Selena’s lips. “Yeah. That’s kind of the problem.”

It always had been. From her wars with countless stables like The Brand and Infamous to her current war with CHBK’s bias point-of-view and The Glimmers disrespecting her and wrestling left, right and centre, Selena had needed to keep fighting. It was the only way she knew how to solve a problem. Keep fighting. Keep getting back up.

“Maybe...” Liam tried, breaking her thoughts. “Maybe that’s why you’re still standing when a lot of other people would’ve folded.” He gestured around the bar. “You think this place survived thirty years because I played it safe?”

Selena glanced around briefly at the worn wood, the patched floors – basically history in every corner.

“No.” she admitted. “But not having much of a health inspector stop on by may have helped.”

“Cute.” Liam smirked half-amused. “It’s because I did things people didn’t agree with. Took risks. Made calls that could’ve cost me everything. Not even the Scythes could get me to play ball!”

“And they all worked out?”
“Nope. Some of them almost bankrupt me. And do you see a ‘Mrs’ of my own around here?”
“I always thought it was because you loved this pub.”

“Hard choices of life, kid. Sometimes you can’t get everything you want when it comes time for hard decisions.”
“But you made those decisions anyway.” she said. “Knowing what it could cost you.”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”

Liam shrugged slightly. “Because sometimes… you don’t get a clean option. Sometimes... it’s not about what’s right or wrong. It’s about what you can live with when it’s all said and done.”

Selena’s gaze dropped to the bar. “And if I can’t?”

She suddenly felt one of those big hands on her shoulder, patting it gently. “Then you deal with that when you get there.” Liam answered her quietly.

The answer caused her to let out a quiet breath. “That’s not exactly reassuring.”

“It’s not supposed to be.” Liam shrugged. “But I’ll tell you this. If you’re doing something that’s this important - this necessary, as you put it - then you better be damn sure it’s worth the cost.”

Selena’s fingers tightened again. She almost didn’t want to say what came out of her next. “It is.”

No hesitation.
No doubt.
Just conviction.

It was the only thing she was sure of. More than Xander’s fake crusade to ‘save her’. More than CHBK’s vendetta against her. More than the Glimmers being a pair of disrespectful, little brats. What she was doing – she hated with every part of her – but she had to do it. Had to make things right. I’m the only one who can...

Liam studied her for a long moment, then nodded slowly. “Alright.” he said. “Then I believe you.”

Selena blinked in surprise. “You… do?”
“I do.” he noddeed. “But that doesn’t change the rest of it.”
Selena’s expression hardened slightly again. “Which is?”
“That you still need to talk to her.”

The platinum-blonde shook her head immediately. “No.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Selena—”

“What part of ‘I can’t’ is too complex?!” she snapped again, more raw this time. “You think I don’t want to? You think I don’t-” She stopped herself, trying to control the rage that had threatened to take over her last Breakdown. “If I talk to her...” she tried, quieter now, “she’s going to try to stop me.”

“Maybe.” Liam shrugged.
“She will.”
“And?”

Selena looked at him like the answer should be obvious. “I can’t let that happen.”

“Why not?”
“Because I’m already out of time!” she said, the words slipping out before she could stop them.
“Out of time for what?”

She shook her head at him.“I said too much.”
“Selena-”
“I said too much.”

Liam exhaled slowly, rubbing a hand over his face before nodding, knowing he was not going to get anything out of his niece tonight.

“Alright...” he said. “I’ll drop that part. But I’ll just say this last thing... I’ve known you your whole life, kiddo.” He eyed her carefully. “You’re scared.”

Selena’s eyed widened. “I’m not scared.”
“Yeah.” Liam replied knowingly. “You are.”

She let out a short, incredulous laugh. “Of what? I’ve stood across from people like Xander Valentine, I’ve gone through everything CHBK’s thrown at me. I’ve taken hits from the Glimmer Sisters and kept going – and that’s just recently! What exactly do you think I’m scared of?”

Liam didn’t hesitate. “Like you said... Losing her.”

There was a moment where Selena had to breathe slowly to calm herself, not appreciating her words being used against her. “I think...” she replied carefully. “That if I do this right… I won’t have to.”

Liam frowned slightly. “And if you’re wrong?”

Selena closed her eyes to breathe slowly again. When she opened them, there was something colder there now. “Then I deal with that.” she answered. “Alone.”

Liam studied her for a long moment... then sighed. “Stubborn as your old man.” he muttered. “But give your girl a little credit, okay? I know she stuck with you through everything. Through the crazy plans, the fights, the obsession, the whole damn ‘prove everyone wrong’ tour you’ve been on since day one.”

Selena didn’t deny that – couldn’t deny it.

“I know she’s still there.” he continued. “Even now. And I know that if there’s anyone who might actually understand why you’re doing something like whatever you’re doing… it’s probably her.”

Selena swallowed slightly. “That’s why I can’t tell her.” she said.
Liam frowned. “That doesn’t make sense.”
“It does to me.”
“Then explain it.”

Selena simply shook her head again.
“Alright.” he said finally. “Then I’ll leave you with this. If this thing you’re doing?” he gestured. “If it really has to be done… then you’re smart enough to see it through. But whatever happens after? You don’t get to control how she reacts.”

Selena’s expression tightened slightly. “That’s not-”

“That’s reality.” he cut in. “You make your move. You live with the consequences.”

Selena looked away, her reflection staring back at her once more. “I know.” was all she could say.

Liam nodded before pushing himself off the bar, grabbing his towel again. “I’m heading to bed.” he said. “You can crash in the back if you want. Same room as always.”

Selena didn’t respond right away. “Thanks.” she did say eventually.

Liam paused, glancing back at her. “For what?”
“For not asking the one question you actually want the answer to.”

A small, knowing smile crossed his face. “Kid...” he said, “If you wanted me to know… you’d have told me.” he paused. “And if you didn’t? Then there’s a reason.”

The wrestler could only give him a nod.

“Don’t stay gone too long.” he added quietly. “Running’s easy. Coming back’s the hard part.”

“Night, Liam.” Selena called out, too tired to argue with him anymore.
“Night.” He disappeared into the back, the door swinging shut behind him with a soft click.

And just like that... She was alone again. The silence returned almost immediately. She sat there for a long time, staring at nothing, her thoughts a storm she refused to fully acknowledge.

Deanna.
CHBK.
Everything that had led to this.

Her jaw clenched. “Wouldn’t have happened if it was Syren...or the Glimmers... Or Xander.” she muttered bitterly.

No witch-hunt. No interrogation. No doubt. But her?

Everything had to be proven.
Everything had to be questioned.
Everything had to be ‘earned’.

Her fingers curled slowly against the bar. “Not this time.”

The words were quiet but absolute.

She pushed herself up from the stool, grabbing her coat as she did. The bar creaked slightly beneath the shift in weight - a familiar sound in an unfamiliar moment. Her gaze drifted one last time around the room.

Nome. “Gods, I hate it here.” she whispered to herself before marching out the side exit (which locked behind her) and into the cold, familiar, chilling air.

Liam was wrong about one thing. She wasn’t running... She was preparing. There was a difference.

Even if nobody else could see it.
Even if Deanna wouldn’t understand it.
Even if it cost her everything.

[Glimmer]

It goes without saying that the Glimmer Sisters enjoyed themselves during the special spring break episode of Breakdown.

Well, for the most part.

Being able to spend the entire show in the skimpiest bikinis they could get cleared to wear for broadcast was certainly a highlight, not to mention screwing with Hollywood en route to another victory over them. All the wardrobe malfunctions they just so happened to have during that match? Icing on the cake.

If anything negative had come out of Breakdown, it was the borderline psychotic fury of Selena Frost as she attacked the twins several times throughout the night. The first time they let slide since Gia being topless gave the production crew heart attacks, not to mention “helping” Selena's already overly fair complexion and getting another shot in on the so-called Executioner.

The second time? Not so much. Selena had practically gotten the last laugh when she struck again right after Gia & Gina had won their match and left one of the twins laying.

Not something that was going to keep the Glimmers down for long, as they'd shown before whenever Selena thought she'd gotten one over on them and they 'd shrugged it off like nothing happened, but knowing she was going to think she had something going for her annoyed them all the same.

With Retribution set to take place in jolly old England, that meant the twins would soon be parting ways with Cirque du Sins for a little bit, the downside of Lucian's business contracts only being valid within America's borders. Granted, given the way the world was these days, trying to figure out how to get an adult circus show across the ocean was a logistical nightmare in and of itself. The twins already knew TSA, or whatever was even left of it anymore, was going to give them shit over their luggage because they were sure half the stuff they packed was going to be questioned in the “what kind of sick kinky freak are you?” kind of way, which was never fun.

There was also the matter of the circus itself. Granted, when the twins had started wrestling for SCW, it hadn't been that big of a deal if they needed to cross borders to compete because while they were arguably the main draw of Lucian Lurid's lustful little world, the show was raunchy and enticing enough that the other acts stepping up could fill the void. With their newfound SCW following, however, it became harder and harder to ignore the fact that so many people came to a Cirque du Sins show just to see what the Glimmer Sisters were up to now.

Believe it or not, they actually had felt quite guilty about this and apologized to the rest of their freaky circus family, but to their surprise, no one really had an issue with it and most of them already had a feeling they were destined to become the star attraction anyways... if only because they were the only ones who ever had the proverbial balls to butt heads with their ringmaster over anything.

For a time, this problem had been resolved when Angel had come aboard, even if everything else about that turn of events hadn't been all sunshine and roses. After all, he'd only been forced upon Lucian by Antonio as a means of having his “personal pet” outshine the Glimmers and ultimately usurp their place in the circus so the sick loan shark could have his way with both the twins and the circus, and since Angel had been more than good enough to match the twins in both skill and lewdness, it solved one problem but created another.

Now, though... Angel's presence was actually missed, and fearing for whatever he was going through now that Antonio had basically blackmailed his way out of what should've been a surefire jail sentence bothered them just as much as anything relating to Selena did.

Needless to say, the twins were hellbent on getting their titles back, and putting in enough effort that would actually make Her Royal Frostiness reconsider a lot of the way she viewed the Glimmers helped immensely in trying to distract themselves from Antonio or whatever he may be doing to Angel or even his new crazed cohort Vincent who'd stepped in to antagonize them lately.

At first glance, they didn't seem like they were doing anything too out of the ordinary. While Cirque du Sins was an X-rated adult circus, it was easy to forget the “circus” part of it and no routine could be given the sexy twist that really pushed it over the line if the basic acrobatics weren't there to keep yourself from getting hurt. That was why Gia & Gina were currently focused on using a trampoline as a springboard to do some flips and corkscrews through the air before attempting to land on the ball of one foot on a balance beam. Challenging enough on its own, but they were both also wearing rather heavy weights on their wrists and ankles, forcing them to adjust in order to actually get the aerial height and maneuverability they needed to not only land correctly, but also strike a rather sultry and enticing pose upon doing so.

Maybe that doesn't seem like it has anything to do with wrestling, but considering enough training like this while really pushing themselves was not only going to make the twins feel lighter whenever they took to the air to allow for more height and reach across the ring, not to mention faster and stronger because of the weights, it was going to make them an even bigger threat in ways they doubted Selena or Xander would ever be able to wrap their heads around.

Lucian: Oi! Bloody good shit, girls! Whichever one of you's not getting the full extension on the leg, try and imagine yourself going to kick that Frosty cunt's head off. That's the ultimate goal at the end of the night, yeah?

Gia had been the twin he was referring to, and instead of arguing with Lucian like she may have normally, Gia just nodded as she and Gina hopped down onto the mats and moved back into their starting position. It was a weird sight all-around for sure, but outside of their performances before London would be calling their names, the Glimmers had been pushing themselves harder than perhaps ever before.

Gia: If those two want respect so damn badly...

Gina: ...we'll kick their asses and make them respect us!

The two of them, weights and all, ran full steam towards the trampoline and used it to launch themselves into the air, twisting into mirrored corkscrews before swinging their legs like they were, as Lucian had put it albeit in less crass terms, trying to kick Selena's head off. This led to them doing almost a midair pair of pirouettes before they both landed perfectly, the ball of one foot on the bar while the other leg was kicked high into the air, one hand holding that leg in place while the other saw fingers starting to trail towards the crotch area. If they'd been wearing less than their leotards (which were fairly skimpy but not “barely there so almost naked” territory) or actually performing, they'd probably go just that little bit further as part of the act, but they weren't looking to turn their legs into jelly beyond their muscles burning from the weights and how long they'd been at this.

Lucian: Now that's how it's bloody fucking done, mates!

Lucian's grinning applause may have gotten scoffs and groans out of them on any other occasion, but Gia & Gina were in a zone right now, letting their boss enjoy his spoils as they actually maintained that rather lewd but impressively flexible pose despite how much they were still being weighed down.

Gia: Lucian... are you sure the circus is going to be fine without us for a little while?

Lucian: Oh trust me mates, we'll manage. It's going to suck massive sweaty balls not having our hottest bitches around to do shit like this, but it'll all be worth it when you come back from fucking England dripping in gold again, yeah?

Gina: Can you blame us for being worried? We saw ticket sales for some of these upcoming shows were down because people know we won't be around...

Lucian: If you two cunts are worried about the debt, don't be. We made such a killing from our own little sexy spring break extravaganza that Antonio will get his bloody pay and we won't have any trouble going into April.

Gia: It's not just the debt we're worried about...

Lucian frowned as the Glimmers both somersaulted off the bar, landing perfectly on their feet before they walked over to him, not even bothering to undo the weights yet.

Lucian: Oi, I don't think I've seen you two this rattled before. Yeah, it's an appropriate response when it comes to Antonio, but you two bitches have-

Gina: It's not exactly Antonio we're worried about.

Lucian just raised an eyebrow at this before things started to click for him.

Lucian: Oh, that Vinny bastard? Yeah... never actually dealt with him before, so he's a whole new wildcard.

Gia: Gina and I have been talking... something about him just feels...

Gina: Antonio's a smart bastard, don't get us wrong, but we figured out how to push his buttons and outwit him-

Lucian: And it almost got your bloody fucking heads blown clean off to end 2025, let's not forget.

The twins exchanged glances at that before sighing.

Gina: Yeah... maybe we slightly underestimated how quickly he'd go from 0 to 100 knowing full well he'd have the law breathing down his neck.

Gia: The guy's got so many shady and illicit deals hidden in the fine print of his seemingly legit businesses it wouldn't surprise me if the walls of his clubs were lined with cocaine hiding in plain sight.

Gina: But Vincent... there's something... different about him.

Gia: Smarter, more composed... kind of.

Gina: Always definitely feels like he's scheming something instead of just acting like he thinks he's ten steps ahead of everybody else.

???: You two sluts are finally starting to get it, aren't you?

All eyes turned to the interruption in the conversation, and Gia & Gina had to fight back tears of joy at the smug, grinning face that was strutting towards them like he belonged here... as far as they were concerned, though? Angel absolutely did. They could see he was wearing a trenchcoat, but it was opened up to reveal the familiar lacy lingerie that fit his drag queen appearance so perfectly. Even Lucian looked giddy to see Angel once again, and he actually took a slap on the ass from him without cringing or flinching for a change.

Gia: Angel? You're alright!

Angel: Eh, I've seen better days, truth be told, but you two really need to stop worrying about me. I'm a big boy, I can handle whatever comes my way.

While Gia looked overjoyed, Gina struggled to hide how skeptical she was of Angel just walking up, making a rather suggestive claim and adjusting his fake tits like he was trying to entice a prospective “client” on the streets.

Gina: Kind of hard not to worry when we've seen what Antonio does to you, Anthony-

Angel: Angel. Please stop calling me by that name, I abandoned it for a reason.

The twins flinched a bit at the irritation in Angel's tone, but they couldn't blame him. After all, they'd changed their own names to completely cut off their past, and they owed him that same courtesy.

Gina: Sorry... look, we can't help it if we worry about you, even if anyone thinks that sounds pathetic coming from the two of us. The way Antonio treats you is fucked up, end of story, and we can't help but think you deserve better.

Gia: Flaunting what you've got should be your choice, not something you do because some sicko finds value in it.

Angel: Ain't that the pot calling the kettle black?

Lucian: Oi, they came to perform here of their own free will, mate. I may be a proud peddler of smut and sin, but I don't make anybody do any fucking thing they don't want to willingly do themselves, yeah? It's bloody different from what Antonio and Vincent do!

Angel: I'm not saying it ain't. Believe me when I say working here was probably one of the best periods of my otherwise worthless life... it's why I'd be more than happy to hold down the fort or whatever while you bitches are overseas making sure that Frost cunt and her big bad boy toy know why all that Glimmers is gold, to borrow a phrase I think I heard you two using recently.

Gia & Gina exchanged stunned glances at this, and even Lucian looked surprised by this news, but Angel's grin was both infectious and sincere.

Lucian: You're really coming back to bloody perform for me again?

Angel: What can I say? You just couldn't keep me away Lucy.

Gia: But what about Antonio?

A flicker of concern crossed Angel's features for just a moment, but it was long enough for the Glimmers to clock it.

Angel: As crazy as this sounds... Vincent actually talked him into lettin' me spread my wings a little more. Not enough that I'm off the leash yet, but sending me back here was his idea to, and I can't believe I'm about to quote my fucking porn director here, ahem... “rebuild the bridge of trust between sexy fucking circus and financial lender.”

Gina: What trust? As far as we've always known about it, Lucian fucked up by taking a loan from Antonio long before we even became who we are today, and pretty much kept a threat looming over his and everybody's heads whenever he came around to get his money.

Angel: You think I fucking know what Vincent's talking about? I'm just repeating what he said that somehow got Antonio to not literally gut me, hollow me out and use my corpse like the most fucked-up sex doll ever created.

Questions probably would've been raised if everyone around Angel in this training area right now didn't look like they were about to puke, but the twins unfortunately had a pretty strong feeling that Antonio absolutely would go that far because he was that much of a sick psychopath, even in his own perversions.

Still, something about this still smelled fishy, and Gina wasn't about to let it go that easily even if it meant having Angel back at the circus again and, more importantly, as far away from Antonio as possible. Something about whatever Vincent was pulling here rubbed her the wrong way, and catching Gia's eye, she could tell her twin was a little more optimistic but also not quite fully buying this either.

Lucian, however, was in his own little world, as per usual most of the time.

Lucian: Well, if you're gonna be around more bloody often Angel, then lemme go grab all the paperwork and shit so we can make it official, yeah? If you're truly doing this not because Antonio or Vinny are practically forcing you onto us, then the least I can do is properly compensate you mate.

Angel nodded, shooing Lucian off as the ringmaster practically bounced like an oversized ball towards his office. He didn't seem too bothered by Angel's reaction, far too giddy over the prospect of having a proper draw again while the twins were out of the picture doing wrestling shit to ultimately deal with the debt to Antonio.

Angel: Seriously, how do you cunts put up with him as your boss?

Gina: You mean aside from the fact he actually understands the concept of consent despite drooling over us like the prime cuts of meat and cake we are?

Gia: We've never been the kind of women who just take being pushed around, even before we became who we are now. That's how you let people think they have power over you and...

Gia trailed off and looked away as she realized where her prospective rant was about to go, and Angel couldn't keep himself from sighing as he picked up on this too.

Angel: Look... my problems are my own, alright? You probably know a thing or two about them by now since you saw the dirt Antonio's got on me. I sold my soul to that devil a long time ago... I knew what I was getting myself into and did it anyway because I had nothing else. You two literally do not need to put this much effort into trying to “save” someone who isn't worth saving.

Gina: And that's where we have to disagree.

Gina took a moment to remove her weights, with Angel's eyes widening at the thud they made for each other that dropped from her wrists and ankles. As Gia followed suit, Gina put a hand on Angel's shoulder... he didn't flinch, but he could feel the surprising strength in her grip.

Gina: We aren't so different Angel... yeah, your situation is far more extreme than ours, but we've all left behind a past that just wasn't us to become something we felt more comfortable with. Maybe some people out there can't wrap their fucking heads around that or think they can just exploit this, but there's always a way out and there's always someone out there willing to actually help you.

Gia: Gina's right. The way you've treated by Antonio and fuck knows who else is just sick. If this is who you want to be, then you deserve to have control over who Angel is and what he does. That's why you became this hyper-kinky drag queen standing before us, isn't it? You own that... and we can help make sure Antonio and Vincent and whoever else runs with them know that.

Angel bit his bottom lip, fake gold tooth that replaced one he'd clearly had knocked out some time ago glinting in the sunlight as he seemed to struggle with the idea of actually believing what he was just told.

Angel: You two really aren't gonna just let this go, are you?

Gia: Not when you deserve better and we know it.

Gina: Besides, the world could do without assholes like the ones using and abusing you. Let the sexiness be shared by the people proud enough to flaunt it, not the sick sociopaths who think they have more power over people than they really do.

Angel: You bitches really are something else, you know that? There's a voice in my head that wants to keep arguing, but considering I saw a little bit of your training? I think the last thing I want to do is fuck with cunts who have legs strong and flexible enough to break the jaw of a mouthy little Disney princess wannabe and probably even knock out a near 7 foot tall mountain of meat.

Gia: That's the plan for Retribution, baby!

Gina: And we plan on coming back with what's rightfully ours, and hopefully with two so-called legends learning to respect us a little more instead of judging us because we're got it and want to flaunt it.

Angel: Then I guess it's up to me to see if I can ruin more pairs of pants than the two of you combined while you're kicking ass and taking names.

The toothy grin Angel gives them is the icing on the cake as the three of them exchange playful slaps of each other's tits before the twins saunter off to give themselves a much-needed break from preparing to reclaim their rightful crowns across the pond.

Unfortunately for them, Angel's comment about a “voice in his head” was a warning the Glimmers completely missed, and once they had disappeared towards the “kitchen” area of the circus setup, his smile faded altogether as his fingers trailed up to one of his more elaborate ear piercings... which doubled as a two-way earpiece.

Angel: Did you get all that, Vincent?

Vincent: Oh, I got it, all right. It's not much, but it's a starting point to dig into these sluts and see just how much bravado they can keep showing once we find out who they really are.

Angel: And... Antonio's going to ease up going forward... r-right?

Vincent: Oh Angel, Antonio knows that right now, it's best to just let me direct this production for the foreseeable future. You just worry about finding out whatever you can and putting on your best performance yet... I'll worry about the BIG plans I've got in mind for those wonderful little whores. Trust me.

Angel gulped as his hand moved away. Those two words always spelled horrible things in Angel's experience, and he was right to be afraid. The twins had no reason at all to trust him, but because they were insistent on helping him out of this mess, they had no idea just how much worse things were about to get for them.

And it would be all his fault... just like everything else that led him to this point.

[Xander Valentine]

Vanity is what drives us most in this sport, isn’t it?

Not many of us could consider their aspirations lofty. We’re competitive. We want to be the best. And the victories. The championship belts. All the fucking accolades are us simply seeking that ego stroke. Continue to build our self-image. Create a sense of self-importance.

I can’t lie to say I’m above that. That I’m some support of a different breed. I glance over at my rivals’ resumes, and I detest how, somehow, there are more World Championship reigns than I do. Others might hold winning records against me, the person whom I have long called the gold standard of this sport. The measuring stick that just happens to hit you back. For years, I’ve acted as the gatekeeper. Barring the unfit from ascending to the pinnacle of this sport.

So, does it feel right that for the first time in my career, I have one half of the Tag Team belts hoisted over my shoulder? It feels good. I can’t lie. One accomplishment that eluded me was achieved in the most unorthodox way. Never in a hundred years would I, or anyone, guess that I would gain these belts by teaming with Selena Frost. We hate each other. We have fought so many wars. Left so many wounds, scars externally, but more serious damage underneath the skin. If there’s a Paratheon of Wrestlers, we’re both eternal rivals, forever scheming and battling against each other.

But our paths intercepted, our goal aligned. We were brought together, against our wills, to take care of the Glimmer Sister problem. Now, the Glimmer Sisters are not the root cause of everything that’s wrong with this new generation of wrestlers. They simply are the face. They found success quickly, and they proved to be one of— if not the best tag team in the world. But having reached the summit so easily has truly tainted their perception. Hard work and hard times create character. And since they skipped the process and went straight to the end result, they are truly incapable of showing respect for this sport and for those who have come before them.

So, Selena and I had to put aside our differences. They spat in our faces, and we returned the receipt. They were no match for the raw firepower of history’s greatest wrestlers. They were simply outgunned. Outmatched. And it’s not because they lacked heart. It’s not because they don’t have the potential to one day ink their names in the history book. No, it’s because they still haven’t matured enough and developed enough to become our equals. Plain. Simple.

An honest review. Not an attack.

It’s why Selena and I, the unlikely duo, hold the World Tag Team Championship. Despite the odds. Despite the struggles. We prevailed. And the Glimmer Sisters fell short— but their vanity refused to accept that result. They cannot grasp the gap between the premier wrestlers of this sport and two upstarts armed with a dream. So we dance again at Retribution. One last time. They get their rematch. Selena and I once again get to punish the sisters for their lack of awareness and utter disrespect.

But it’s more than that to me now. Sure, I want to taste victory. Sure, I want to savor being Tag Team Champion, even if my partner is my enemy— but more than ever, it is because Selena Frost is my partner that I have to ensure that this venture continues.

At a certain point, Selena Frost’s achievements— her legacy. Our rivalry. She gave me a purpose to keep fighting. To keep striving. As long as the question stands, whether or not Selena Frost is the greatest of all time, I have a reason to continue wrestling. Fight through the aches and pains. Fend off father time. She inspires me in a very petty fashion.

Before her? I languished. I stumbled. I took my top spot for granted. But never again. And for that, I owe her.

And I will repay her.

When I look in her eyes and see the darkness, I know that she’s on the path to self-destruction. I’ve seen that look. In the mirror. Years ago. When I question life, battling an existential crisis. Unable to find an answer, I lash out at everyone I love and start digging my own early grave. By some miracle of God, I survived those dark times, perhaps because of that purpose given to me by Selena Frost.

I can’t let Selena destroy herself. I can’t have her throw away everything she built. I bet people are confused why I care so much. Wouldn’t it benefit Xander Valentine if Selena Frost went ahead and tarnished her legacy? Throw everything away. Lose herself. Couldn’t I play catch-up? Couldn’t I try to lap her? Couldn’t I take advantage of her dwindling presence?

But there’s a difference between most people and me. I don’t want the easy way out. I don’t want to win by default. I don’t want anything to fall into my lap. Syren. Selena. They did take advantage of my misfortune and the distractions that came with it. They rose in my absence. So I have every right to take advantage if Selena falls to ruin— but there’s this gut feeling, this sense of guilt, this shame. I want to earn that top spot in the history books by my own strength, not the weakness of my arch-nemesis.

So I have thrown on an unfamiliar cape— I have decided to be her savior. Her hero. And these titles are the only lifeline left connected to Selena. The only anchor that is grounding her. As long as I have her in my grasp, the more opportunity I have to pull her back from the edge. Once this reign ends, she could be gone forever. And I can’t allow that.

So this Sunday, the Glimmer Sisters once again found themselves in a very opportune position. If they can manage the upset, if they can successfully drive that wedge in between Selena and I, they could be that first domino that leads to the fall of Selena Frost. The end of her career. They could very well kill a wrestling deity. And from what I gathered, they sense the blood in the water. They salivate. Their ambition is boundless.

And I am Selena’s last line of defense. The sad thing is, she doesn’t even know it. I am that last tether. And damn, is it hard holding onto her with her fighting me every step of the way. But I’ll shield her until she can come around and realize the error of her ways. I’ll help her find the path back from the blink… and if that means the annihilation of two young and upcoming stars, then so be it. I’ll devour the universe if I have to.

For there to be the yin, there has to be the yang.

Your vanity won't trump my noble cause. I'm fighting to protect far more important than a pat on the back.

Fade to black.

[SnowQueenSCW]

Scars of a Fascade

”What I Can’t Say...”

The Old Gold Mine
Nome, Alaska
March 17th, 2026
3:33pm

The wind howled across the frozen stretches like some kind of ghost, dragging snow and ice across the ground. It filled the silence... but not enough to drown out thought for Selena as she stood just outside the cave she had been using as a temporary refuge, her phone gripped tightly in her hand as she stared down at the screen.

One name. One picture. One decision she had been avoiding for three days.

Deanna...

Her thumb hovered over the call button. Her jaw tightened slightly as her mind ran through it again - the plan, the timing, the consequences. Every angle she could account for. Every outcome she could prepare for. Even this ‘number one contender match’ happening for the world title didn’t faze her entirely. It was CHBK being CHBK.

It was beyond clear to Selena what the ‘icon’ was doing. He was trying to maneuver Shaun into the world title picture – another ‘friend’ and ‘legend’. And if that didn’t work, then Syren had an easy title defence coming after she wiped the floor with Gavin Taylor – another EASY defence.

And he thinks distracting me with The Glimmer Sisters will make me not see this... She could almost laugh at the absurdity. Any idiot with a brain could see this for the political BS that it was. Not one person in that contender match had ‘earned it’ like she had been told to do over and over again by CHBK. Not an undefeated streak, not winning handicap matches, not defeating champions. Nothing.

It wouldn’t matter. She had CHBK where she wanted him. He had just delayed the inevitable and shown his bias by launching an investigation on her – something he never would have done if Lexy Chapel had demanded it or Syren had asked for it. Nope. Just her. Always her...

Anything to keep me from the world title... She felt her jaw clench. That’s what this whole debacle with the tag-team titles was about. As if Xander Valentine, of all people, wanted to ‘save’ her. The man had been given EVERYTHING by CHBK this past year with multiple title shots across multiple divisions and whatever else he wanted. This was just CHBK calling in a favour – keep Selena in the tag-team division so I can use it as an excuse.

That’s all this was. She had already embarrassed the Glimmer Sisters by handing them their first tag-team loss AND taking the titles from them, but since they weren’t ‘Selena Frost’, they got their rematch at the very next pay-per-view. And of course Selena wasn’t going to let them have a win over her. Not in a million years!

Kandis.
Alistaire.
Hudson.
Cid.

People that had used her name – their win – against her and been given the world! The push, the spotlight, the praise. But as soon as Selena got her chance and suprassed them all, nobody cared. It was ‘expected’. It was ‘common’ for Selena to be better than everyone. And yet, CHBK had kept her from the world title once again – her total ‘world title shots’ in the last TWO years equalling a measly one per year.

Not much longer... Selena told herself. Soon, he’ll have no choice...

As much as she wanted to believe that, there was that nagging thought in her mind: The one piece that didn’t fit neatly into the strategy. The one thing that made this harder than it needed to be. She gazed down at her phone.

Deanna...

What was she doing? Why was she even doing this? Did she really even need another world title reign? Wasn’t six enough? Wasn’t ‘the longest reign in history’ enough? If this really was what SCW was becoming, did she even want to be world champion of it anymore?

“You should’ve just left it alone...” she muttered under her breath. But she hadn’t... and now it was too late.

Selena exhaled slowly, her breath visible in the cold air as her thumb finally pressed down. She heard the phone ring... Once. Twice. Three-

“Selena?!” The sharpness of Deanna’s voice hit immediately, cutting through the cold, through the distance, through everything Selena had carefully built up over the last few days.

She closed her eyes briefly. “Hey.”

It was all she allowed herself to say. Anything more and the cracks would start showing. She could already feel them forming. So much of her wanting to just jump on a plane, fly back to Manhattan, tell Deanna everything and just... just...

“Where are you?” Deanna’s voice came fast, overlapping itself. “Are you okay? What—”
“I’m fine.” she managed to get out automatically.
“Selena—”
“I said I’m fine, Dee.”

She couldn’t let this spiral. Couldn’t let Deanna start pulling at threads she wasn’t allowed to see.

“Then why did you leave?” came the inevitable question.

Selena turned slightly, pacing a step through the snow, her boots crunching softly beneath her.

“Why didn’t you tell me anything?” she heard Deanna continue. “I went to the Tower and-”
“I know.” She winced slightly as soon as the words left her mouth.

Too honest. Too much.

“You… know?” came the confused response.
“Yeah.” Selena tried. “I figured you would.”
“Then why-”
“I needed to go.” Selena interjected quickly.
“That’s not an answer.”

“It’s the one I’ve got.” And the only one she could give...

“No, it’s not.” The frustration in Deanna’s voice cut deeper now, causing Selena’s grip to tighten on the phone. “You don’t just disappear and then call me like everything’s fine and expect me to just – what - accept that? No!”

Selena flinched slightly as Deanna continued.

“We’ve been down that road so many times, remember? With me being the one who often pays for it!”

That one hurt. Because it wasn’t wrong. Immediately, the Snow Queen could recall so much. Jessica Winters, the NX, so much with the Frost/Frostmere, so many times she had chosen secrecy over communication with Deanna – only for it to inevitably blow up in her face. She closed her eyes again, exhaling slowly through her nose.

“I’m not asking you to accept it.” she whispered. It sounded hollow even to her.
“Then what are you asking me to do?”

The silence was longer than she wanted it to be, because she didn’t have a real answer to give. “Trust me.” was all she could say. The words tasted bitter, not because they were false - but because she knew how they sounded.

“Trust you?” she heard the disbelief in her partner’s voice. “Selena, you vanished. No explanation, no message, nothing - and now you’re asking me to just trust you?”

“Yes.” She didn’t hesitate. Because if she did, Deanna would tear this apart. And I can’t let that happen.

Selena turned her back to the wind, stepping closer to the wall of the cave as if it would block out the conversation.

“That’s not fair,” Deanna said, quieter now. “You don’t get to do that. Not to me. Not again.”
“I know.” And she did. Gods, she knew.
“Do you?” Deanna fired back. “Because it doesn’t feel like you do.”

She felt her hand grasp the cold stone of the cave wall, trying to steady herself. “I didn’t have a choice.” she tried to say.

There it was. The truth. Or at least part of it. Deanna... she had no idea. Everything had gone smoothly for her since RTG. Immediate entrance into the Shot of Adrenaline tournament, acceptance by the management and SCW Universe. Selena had had none of that. She had just been shamed, disrespected and pushed to the back of the line with every person CHBK could get coming in and cutting said line so her ‘place’ never changed.

She had tried every method! A winning streak. Beating the ranks. Beating former champions. Declaring and challenging – she had done it all... things that certain people had done one of and gotten their wish... and nothing for her. No advancement. Only a trap where she was sidled with a man she despised almost as much as CHBK. Of course, she had no chance – even if no one cared enough to see it.

“What… What does that even mean?” came the quiet question from Deanna. “Why were you shouting that you were next in line for the world title? How is that even possible? And what about Xander and the tag-titles-”

“I can’t explain it.” Selena spat out. Cut it off. Shut it down. Before it goes too far. “But I meant what I said.”

“Selena…” Her name again - softer this time. “Talk to me. Please. Whatever this is, whatever you’re dealing with—we can figure it out. Together. That’s how this is supposed to work.”

The platinum-blonde let out a quiet breath. Almost a laugh. Because she wanted to – more than anything, she wanted to. But the truth was far more cruel.

“Not this time.” She felt it the second she said it - the shift.
“Why?”

Because if I tell you...
Because if you know...
Because if you look at me the wrong way...

“Because if I do…” she said slowly, carefully. “You’re going to try to stop me.”
“Then maybe you should be stopped.”

Selena froze. Because that wasn’t the answer she expected - not from Deanna. She felt a flicker of something pass through her chest. Fear? No. Doubt. It was gone just as quickly as it came.

“I can’t let that happen.” Her voice hardened slightly. “We had a deal.”
“And you’re breaking it!” The words hit hard. “Why else would you be hiding from me? From our family?”

Selena’s grip tightened, her knuckles whitening. “I’m not-”
“You’re going to break a rule, aren’t you?”

Selena felt her heart stop. It was too close – Deanna was figuring it out with each word she let slip!

“For the world title...” Deanna continued, her voice racing now. “You’re going to do something you know I won’t have a choice but to get involved!”

“I’m fixing something.” It came out faster this time.
“That doesn’t tell me anything!”
“It’s not supposed to.”
“Is this about CHBK?” Deanna pressed. “About everything that happened? The tag titles? Xander? The Glimmers? Because if it is, then we can-”
“It’s about everything.” Selena cut her off again. “And it’s bigger than that.”
“Bigger how?”

She hesitated, but only for a moment. “You wanted this to end favourably?” she said, her voice quieter now. “So I don’t jump at the deadline?”

Even saying it felt dangerous. That balcony back at Eyrie Tower... She shouldn’t have brought that up. But it was already out there.

And Deanna had heard it. It was there in the shift of Deanna’s breathing. The realization. “You’re not making any sense.” She whispered. “You’re talking in circles, you’re shutting me out, and you’re talking about your deadline. What am I supposed to make of all of this?”

“That I have a plan.” Selena leaned back against the wall. “That I’m doing this to make everything better, okay? To stop this stupidity. This bias system and to give some meaning back into everything. I…”

She stopped. Because she had almost said too much.

“You what?”

Damn it. Shut it down!

“Nothing.” the former world champion replied.
“No. You don’t get to do that.”

“I already have.” The words came out colder than she intended, but she didn’t take them back. She couldn’t let Deanna in. Not when everything was already in motion.

“That’s not how this works!” implored the redhead.

Selena closed her eyes again. And for a split second... Just a split second...

She almost broke. Almost told her everything. Almost let her in.

But then...
The plan.
The consequences.
The cost.

Her grip tightened again on the phone. She’d made the choice already. There was no going back.  She pulled the phone away and ended the call.

Silence rushed in immediately - louder than the wind, louder than anything. Selena just stood there, staring at the dark screen, her reflection faintly visible in it.

“Yeah...” she muttered quietly. “That went well.” A humourless breath escaped her.

She lowered the phone slowly, her jaw clenched. “You’ll understand.” she said under her breath. Not now. But eventually...

She had to believe that. Because if she didn’t... Then this really would cost her everything.

“Too late to turn back now.” she whispered to herself. And even if it wasn’t too late - She wouldn’t have.

Because some things? Some things didn’t give you a choice...

Even if it felt like they did.

_______________________________________________________________

The Royal Letter

London England and the SCW Universe...

Do you believe?

Probably not. I mean, CHBK doesn’t want you to. He’s doubling down on EVERYTHING. I mean, the man has ZERO proof of what I said being untrue... and he’s already throwing together a number one contender match for the world title!

Explain that to me, SCW Universe. I make my statement. I show my proof – he has YET to disprove that proof, and he’s already promising MY shot – MY SPOT – to someone else!

Speaking of proof – do you need anymore when it comes to CHBK against me? Of this company against me? “Earn it”? Pffft... what a bunch of crap. Hey, I’m from Nome, Alaska, okay? We call it like we see it. If it’s friggin’ cold? It’s friggin’ cold!

I call it like I see it. And when I do stuff like undefeated winning streaks, when I beat former champions, when I win handicap matches, stuff that got the likes of Glory Braddock and Kimberly Williams and Syren opportunities? When I win chamber matches and get nothing but James Evans gets handed a title shot? When I beat Syren in the first match I have with her since her dumbass returned for the umpteenth time, but SHE’S the world champion? I beat the EFN time and time again but Kemal – who by the way wasn’t even good enough to make it to the semifinals of the Shot of Adrenaline tournament – HE’S got a number one contender opportunity? Shaun Cruze doesn’t have more than a few matches to his name since he came back – HE’S in that spot? Glory Braddock? Didn’t I beat her last time we fought? Amelia? When’s the last time she won a big match, huh? I love Amelia, but I’m speaking facts here.

How much more are you people going to see before you actually believe what I am saying? There’s only one person that deserves the world championship title shot and that’s me. We saw Xander Valentine fumble the ball twice when it came to the Underground title, that doesn’t say anything about how he fumbled the ball with the World title when it came to the Fall of Man, so he’s out of the running.

That just leaves me. And you know it. I know it. CHBK knows it... so why the run around? Why the delays? Why the investigation? Why this ‘little show’?

Because CHBK can’t stand the idea of me being the world champion. He can’t stand the idea of me being the world champion over his ‘chosen’ like Syren and Shaun and Cid – people of the ‘old days’ or his protegees. I’m not like that. I’m the one that embarrassed Infamous and Pinnacle and whatever the hell he was part of with Syren. I’m the one that exposed Cid as a man that couldn’t do this full-time cause I was beating his ass when it was full-time so he ran away from me in favour of Glory Braddock. I’m the one that’s out here, proving I am the top talent and the ONLY reason I’m not celebrating my eighth or ninth or tenth world title reign?

Is because the guy in charge makes me wait four months, six months – a whole year – time and time again while he protects his favourites!

And Glimmers? You’re no different. You think you’re in this because you’re owed? That you’ve got an owed rematch? You’re where you are because CHBK wants you here and wants me out of the way. You’re just dumbass pawns in all of this. A couple of stupid strippers being used to keep me out of the way so he can keep the world title out of my reach.

That’s all you’re good for. That’s all you’ve ever been good for. Trust me, you think your little ‘strip show’ is selling? People can see much more for free on the internet, they don’t have to wait a week for a ‘chance’ to see ‘twins’, you get me?

But I would have thought finally having a loss in your tag-team record would have humbled you. Would have made you realize the level you should be at when holding the tag-team titles. More than that, girls, I thought it would smarten you up in regards to what happens when you run your mouth at me. When you disrespect me!

But apparently, I was asking for too much. Apparently, the two of you share only one brain cell and it’s on vacation, because it wasn’t long before you were trying the same shit. Ambushes. Attacks from behind while doing your strip shows, right? Calling what happened to you an accident? A mistake?

You two don’t get it, do you? The REASON you guys held onto those titles as long as you did is that CHBK kept you from me. The REASON you two had that little ‘winning streak’ you had is because CHBK knew that if he put me in a handicap match with you two – you’d end up just like EFN and what would that say about you, huh? What would that say about your ‘great tag-team’ if one Snow Queen took you down?

Girls, you’ve got some talent, I’ll give you that... but you’re as bad as Cid and Syren cause you think what you have is off your own back. What you have was given to you because YOU WERE PROTECTED! And last Breakdown, I stopped playing this game. I stopped playing by CHBK’s rules of ‘earning it’. Instead, I showed you what happens when I play by YOUR rules. When I’m the one launching ambushes and I’m the one attacking from the shadows and what happened?

I didn’t need an Executioner. I didn’t need management. I tore your half-naked asses apart, didn’t I? They needed a team to save you two from me.

I want you both to think long and hard about that beating I put on you, because if you think that’s not going to happen tonight at Retribution, let me straighten that out for you. Because now? You’re wasting my time. You’re wasting my time with you. You’re wasting my time when I should be focusing on becoming the world champion again.

But I can’t do that.

I have to deal with you and your continued disrespect. I have to deal with you so that CHBK can protect his world champion in Syren and help his buddy Shaun have a comeback just like he gave Cid who, surprise surprise, the second he loses the title like everyone else, is out the door.

I have to WASTE my time with you and with Xander Valentine for a partner. A man I have had to drag like a dead weight behind me! Because, unlike me, he NEEDS this! He failed as a world champion! He failed to become Underground champion! This is ALL he has left so he’s changing his tune, trying to ‘save me’. Yeah, if he was trying to do that, why’s he getting in my way? Why is he stopping me from laying you two out? Why’s he trying to stop me from becoming world champion and calling ‘bullshit this’ and ‘bullshit that’? If he was trying to save me, he’d be doing the right thing and staying out of my way in becoming world champion!

But I’ve got to carry his ass too. I’ve got to look out for him because he could break down any second like he did against Enigma. Like he did at the Underground Turmoil match.

So, girls, I want you to understand that you THINK you got this all figured out. That you can laugh and say you’ve got this in the bag, but last time I dealt with you two and took your titles away? That was a matter of respect and a receipt. This? This is going to be so much worse. Because I’m not taking titles from you. I’m not taking your undefeated streak or your ‘perfect tag record’.

In short... I’m out for blood.

I am taking ‘the system’, ‘the bias’ and everything you and that old man sitting in his office has put me through and ripping it apart piece by piece, even if I have to go through the Executioner to do it! And when I’m done? I’m going to dump your asses out of my ring. I’m going to stand there and remind the world who the REAL number one contender for the world title is.

I am going to remind the world that time is running out for this little delay. That CHBK’s games are over! And the rightful world champion... is coming to take back what’s hers.

Whether you are conscious enough to believe it... or not.

[Glimmer]

To anyone truly familiar with London, England, they are no doubt familiar with a specific area known as Whitechapel. It's arguably the most well-known area when you think of London's historic East End, partly because of its diverse immigrant communities, but mostly because of the series of murders that took place on these streets in the late 1800s, all of the victims being prostitutes and most of their deaths being attributed to the legendary serial killer Jack the Ripper. These streets are much safer in modern times, but they are still stained with the blood of the whores who defined its history. Perhaps that's why this seems to be the area of London where we find the Glimmer Sisters instead of anywhere closer to Wembley Stadium.

The choice of filming location isn't the only thing that feels off though. As Gia & Gina stand in a back alley, right in front of a rather disturbingly beautiful graffiti mural of a shadowed figure we assume is meant to represent Jack the Ripper looming over two women who absolutely would've been victims of his in London's past, the twins are dressed somewhat modestly for a change. Granted, tight black yoga pants and cleavage-revealing tight black cropped tank tops with leather jackets thrown on over them probably wouldn't qualify as “modest” to most people, especially since if you look hard enough you can see Gia & Gina are “nipping out” in the cool breeze which means they aren't wearing bras, but it's arguably the most tame wardrobe we've seen the Glimmers in aside from their wrestling attire. If anything does feel right about this whole scene, it's the fact that we still have no way right out of the box to tell who's who, and they don't seem too keen on resolving that for us right away.

Gia(?): I bet you lovely idiots are all surprised, huh? No over-the-top display, aside from maybe this sick mural behind us that we just so happened to stumble across, nothing too erotic or sensual that's got you already pulling your pants down while you sit there watching us.

Gina(?): We considered it, especially after all the fun we had during spring break. I mean, we embarrassed the team that beat the current tag team champions-

Gia(?): Pretty sure that's twice now we've pulled that off since coming to SCW, and we all know what happened the first time we manifested that into reality.

Gina(?): We got to flirt with a lot of cute guys and girls-

Gia(?): Oh, the stories we could share about the Breakdown after-partying we did.

Gina(?): We even gave SCW's production team a reason to actually do their jobs and kept them busy aaaaaaall night long, especially when we got to end another match topless.

Gia: I got to be topless several times that night, if that help you figure out who's who.

Gia, as we can now safely assume, gives us a flirty wink, but the mounting joy doesn't last long as both twins become serious for a change.

Gina: Yeah, spring break was the most fun we've had in quite some time, and we hope SCW considers doing it again next year.

Gia: Buuuuut... there were some things that also bugged us about spring break too. Don't worry, it had nothing to do with all your horny sinners out there. We're talking more to the gruesome twosome currently parading around with our gold.

Gina: Take that as a petty jab at your looks if you two want, because let's face it... you're not so hot in that area either, TBH. But the truth of the matter is that you're a dysfunctional mess as best. Yeah, you beat us last time around, we'll actually admit to it. Congrats, maybe we'll even give you medals if you want those too as another way to stroke your own egos.

Gia: Maybe this'll come as a shock if you two actually listen to us for once, but we can admit when we fucked up. We would still be standing here as champions with the two of you conquered and behind us if everything had gone according to plan, but we'll stroke your egos a little bit and admit that you've both earned your status as legends, hall of famers, etc. You held together with enough duck tape to prove that. Problem is... winning those titles is one thing, defending them is another.

Gina: And Gia and I? We learn from our mistakes and adapt for the future... if we couldn't do that, then we probably wouldn't be standing here, now would we? No, we'd probably be no different than the victims of Mr. Ripper behind us: corpses laying in the streets with our throats slashed open, all these luscious curves dripping blood.

Gia: Calling it now: these two egotistical fucks are probably getting off to that disgusting little mental image, Gina. They both have the mentality of serial killers who would murder someone over the pettiest of things, and I don't just say that because one of you calls yourself the Executioner.

Gina: Maybe we should check in on Deanna before we wrestle this match, make sure she's alright. I mean, who knows what Selena's done to her in this desperate bid to make the idea of “Selena Championship Wrestling” a reality?

You can almost feel the sudden chill that cuts through this back alley out of the blue. The twins both shiver a bit, and their exposed bellies do look covered in goosebumps if you look hard enough (though, let's be honest, your eyes are probably still on their nipples that seem even more prominent now trying to poke through their tops). Despite the mocking tone Gina took with her words, though, she and Gia both look deathly serious for perhaps the first time we've known them.

Gia: Real talk Selena? The way you treat Deanna is fucking horrible. I'm not saying that to get into your head or psyche you out or make Deanna consider turning on you or any of that, I'm stating a fact. We get it, you're a narcissistic bitch with an ego as fragile as the ice that you love using to define you. If you had your way, you'd be the only person holding any titles in SCW and no one would ever be allowed to challenge for any of them because in your mind, this place has to die with you and you alone at the top because this is Selena's world and we're all just living in it.

Gina: Surprise bitch, but contrary to popular belief, we actually do pay attention... a lot more than you apparently. Let's not forget that I just so happen to have a lovely little contract that affords me the luxury of doing literally anything my dirty little heart could dream of, so Gia and I have been watching, seeing how everything else plays out, scheming of what we could use it on to entertain ourselves. That means we paid attention to Deanna and her little tournament run, and we recall something being said about the winner receiving a shot at any other title if they just so happened to be Adrenaline champion by tourney's end.

Gia: We don't have to be the brilliant schemers we are to put two and two together Selena, especially when we watch the show back and hear everyone freaking out about the implications all night. Shame it doesn't seem to have worked because your name's not on the card in that world title slot and you still weren't going to avoid us at Retribution, but you want to stand there and bitch and moan about how “unfair” it all is? Seriously?

Gina: We may be slutty clowns Selena, but you're the real joke here. Once upon a time, you were SCW's white knight and you never let anybody forget about it. You wanted things settled fairly in that ring, above all else, and you condemned bitches like us who use whatever means necessary to get our hot little asses to the top. Look at you now, though: getting yourself disqualified because you're that desperate to still be seen as the unbeatable queen you want so badly to be known as, stealing title shots that do not belong to you just to get your way? You say it's unfair that you're not world champion right now... how many times have you been world champion already?

Gia: Better yet, what have you actually done to deserve it? FYI, you can spare us the bullshit about how nobody's been able to beat you in months or whatever, because I think one thing both CHBK and Franky can agree on is taking a good look at the way you're acting and thinking to themselves “is that who we want as our world champion?” You haven't beaten anybody arguing over the next opportunity right now, you just keep trying to step into the spotlight and shove them aside. Do you even care that your supposedly good friend Amelia may be well on her way to crashing out just as badly as you have? Or how about someone like Glory, who you tried to bully out of her world title shot and now ever since she lost it she's barely done anything beyond showing up to beg daddy to give her another chance? Hell, you didn't even come out to help your own wife during Fatal Fortunes against the “unfairness” of the two of us taking advantage of the rules we got to play under to try and take away her title, Xander had to come out and do it for you.

Gina: Shame us all you want because you, like everyone else, don't seem to understand that we choose to flaunt what we've got because we know everybody wants to see it, but it hasn't stopped us from doing the one thing you keep freaking out over any time it comes up in conversation: proving ourselves. You want to talk about being unbeatable for so long? Up until recently, Gia and I were unbeatable period. Every team put in front of us, we kicked their asses, and that included the very team that shortly afterward became champions. They can cry about the how all they want, it doesn't change the fact that we beat them all and proved that we'd earned our title reign. You and Xander? Didn't even earn that, but we gave it to you anyway because you both gave us a reason to make this into something.

The scowls from the twins grow more intense the more they talk, revealing a passion that we haven't truly seen from them quite yet... a passion that has nothing to do with anything remotely sexual for once and has everything to do with how much Xander and especially Selena piss them off and how badly they want their titles back.

Gia: Speaking of the big guy, how are you holding up? Still feel like you “need” to do this to “save Selena from herself” or whatever? Because as far as we can see? It ain't working, chief. She still wants nothing to do with you, still only cares about doing everything by herself and trying to do whatever she thinks will make the whole world bow down and kiss her ass like she's the greatest wrestler ever created... hell, she still tries to kick your ass once a week and you do nothing about it! Pat yourself on the back because you think that makes you a good partner, but last we checked, that's not who Xander Fucking Valentine is supposed to be at all.

Gina: What happened to the man who doesn't play well with others and, just like Selena, wants to do everything himself because he and he alone needs the world to see him as this unstoppable force that no one can touch? That no one is allowed to beat because you say so, thinking you're just that good? What happened to the son of a bitch who told every ally he could've had to fuck off and burned whatever bridges you might've built all just to martyr yourself against the Fall of Man? Where's the Xander Valentine who's supposed to be feared because he's this ruthless, unstoppable juggernaut that makes you piss yourself once you're standing across the ring from him? Sorry, big guy... we just don't see it.

Gia: All we see is an overgrown mutt who got his balls cut off and has been nothing more than Selena's bitch for the past few months because you think you're “saving” her from something... how noble of you. Does that mean no one else who's falling down the same pit Selena threw herself into is worth saving? Pretty sure you had a respectable little thing going with the aforementioned Amelia chick until you went all “I'm Batman and I work alone and on my terms” on her. How long until that bites you in the ass, especially since you helped create whatever Selena 2.0 bullshit's going on with her recently by ending her shiny new Underground title reign? Oh is this what you meant when you told her the world doesn't need heroes, only hatchet men?

Gina: Pretty sure you were lying through your teeth to pump yourself up for the hell you created to throw yourself into, because if you actually meant a word of that? You wouldn't be trying to “save” Selena like the hero she never asked for and clearly doesn't want, you would've put her in the ground and tried to solo us just like you tried to solo the Fall of Man. Face it Xander... you let yourself get neutered somewhere along the way, and if you still think we're supposed to be afraid of you or give two shits about your so-called legend? Then maybe Selena did give you brain damage after Enigma finished handing you your ass on a silver platter. But hey, at least you also got a brief run as Underground champion without the superior monster around to break you, so maybe you aren't as useless as you've been looking lately.

Gia: Thank you though, Xander... we mean it. Thank you for letting us have our little request that we get our titles back if you and Selena get disqualified. How nice of you to be the one to have a sense of honor since Selena sold hers to take over that fantasy world you once lived in where you're the center of the universe and everything's all about you, you, you. Deep down, you know that if Frosty McBitchTits lost her cool and threw this match away, it would reflect just as badly on you and your “legend.” I mean, the history books have the two of you losing to Hollywood, for fuck's sakes! How does it feel having that on your personal record to look back on? Maybe we should print t-shirts to celebrate the occasion?

Gina: No need, Gia, because it's not going to matter after Retribution. Last time, we played around too much and banked on the two of you killing each other and doing most of the work for us. Can you really blame us though considering you two have always mixed about as well as Selena and the sun do? But we're not making that mistake again.

Gia: In case we have to spell it out for you guys, we left the fun and games behind on the beach. Got it all out of our system for a little bit. We're done playing... you two have what should rightfully still be ours, and we'll be damned if we let you think we're going to just go quietly into the night and let this petty daytime soap opera drama bullshit continue. You want us to take this seriously? Well congrats... at Retribution, right here in London? You go from being the first team to beat the Glimmer Sisters to being the first team to see what happens when we stop screwing around.

Gina: You can worry about the ticking time bomb that is Selena once she realizes she didn't get her way yet again Xander, but she's not the only bitch you're going to be worrying about on Sunday. Gia and I? We mean this as bluntly as possible when we say we're going to kick your asses and show you how wrong you both are about the two of us not belonging in this business. We've been training, we're taking this more seriously than anything else in our lives, and I mean it when I say that if the two of you want to leave Wembley with those titles? You're going to have to kill us to make it happen.

Gia: No one's been able to make that happen yet, and that was when we were still clowning around. But there's nothing funny about what's going to happen at Retribution.

Gina: By the time we're done with the two of you? Jack the Ripper himself will be smiling up at us from hell when he sees what we will do to murder the legacies of SCW's two most entitled and egotistical assholes and remind everyone of why, at the end of the night?

Gia: The Glimmer Sisters always have a plan to put ourselves on top, because that's how you survive in a world that wants you dead just because it doesn't want to understand you.

Gia & Gina both turn to glance up at the ominous looming mural of Jack the Ripper as rather sick smiles slowly begin to form on their lips. It's nothing like the arrogant, haughty, seductive looks they always wear. This is something more akin to their own version of Selena Frost's delusional madness, and as we fade out on this rather unsettling sight, we know that the Glimmers are hellbent on reclaiming what is rightfully theirs by any means necessary, and this time? They refuse to let Selena & Xander think they can stop them.