For an SCW World Tag Team Championship opportunity

[The Matt]

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April 4th, 2024
Cleveland, Ohio
Off Camera
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The Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio is abuzz with excitement as SCW Breakdown continues. Many backstage are preparing for the matches still to come, others are tense, nervous due to the backstage assaults from Twisted & Sadistic, but one individual whose thoughts are far from tense is none other than “The Phoenix” Marie Annabelle Jones. Ever since she returned to Supreme Championship Wrestling with the goal of redeeming herself, with the goal of making things right, she has had sights set on big things. The road has been difficult but finally it appears as if her dream is coming to fruition. Tonight, The Phoenix became SCW Television Champion. This victory meant so much to Marie Jones; not only is it another championship to her already impressive resume, not only does this put her in the elite rank of superstars who have won three SCW Television Championships, but this title, the Television Title, it is the workhorse title. To hold it means you are defending it week in and week out. The fact that she has it is symbolically acknowledging that this time will be different, that Marie is back and she is not going anywhere. She intends to put in all of the hard work and the dedication necessary to be a champion in SCW.

Jones is walking through the backstage area, still dressed in her wrestling gear as her match against Colleen only just recently concluded. She carries with her the newly won SCW Television Championship title belt which she gazes at with a sense of pride washed across her face. It is yet another step closer towards redemption. This is what she needed at this very moment in her career, in her long journey back.

“Well you look positively delightful.” The voice is the familiar voice of her mother, Angelica Jones. Marie turns to spot her mother approaching from the left. Angelica is wearing an ankle length black skirt, black patent leather high heel pumps, and a black sleeveless top. Angelica is proud as well, proud of what her daughter has accomplished this evening. The Matriarch of the Jones family steps forward and gives her a brief hug before tapping the Television Title belt. “So tell me, how does it feel to have gold again?”

“I won’t lie…” she looks down at her title belt and then back up at Angelica “...it does feel great! But I have to keep myself grounded. I cannot let my ego get the better of me as it has in the past. Winning championships is great. That’s what we’re here for, right? But this right here is not my finish line.”

“Are you thinking World Title?” Angelica asks with a knowing grin. Marie shakes her head.

“No, not the World Title…or even the Adrenaline Title, the two titles that I still have yet to win, the titles I need in order to become Supreme Champion. Although I certainly won’t turn down any opportunities CHBK offers me. My finish line is still a mystery to me. There is no one trinket or trophy I can win that says ‘YES, YOU HAVE FINISHED YOUR STORY!’ But I’m sure I will know the finish line when I reach it.”

“What is your finish line, Marie?” Angelica asks curiously.

“Being accepted again by the roster, by the fans, by my peers; the knowledge that SCW trusts me to be there when the chips are down. When I have earned that level of trust, then I know that I have reached my finish line.” She kisses the title belt. “But until then, this will do!”

“And unlike your last run in SCW you won’t thumb your nose at opportunities you perceive as beneath you?” Angelica taps the title belt that rests in her daughter’s hands. “Because if my memory serves me, you and Kim weren’t exactly thrilled with being in the Television Title chase. Kim gets a pass because she wanted to be in the Underground Division. But you…” her voice trails off. Marie sighs and nods her head before she finds a nice spot on a packing crate to sit down.

“Yeah, I know. I desperately wanted to be SCW World Champion. Hell, Kim didn’t even give a damn about the Frosts. She only tormented Deanna and Selena on my orders to make me happy. I literally used my own twin to further my goal of becoming SCW World Champion. And had Kim actually beaten Selena for the SCW World Title, she would have given it to me on a silver platter. That’s the kind of loyalty Kimmy has.” Marie shakes her head as a sense of guilt washes over her. “I never once returned that favor. I never once showed that kind of loyalty towards her. It has eaten away at my soul for a long time now. And one day I will repay her. I swear it.”

“That’s the silly thing about you two.” Angelica pats her daughter on the back. “You think you owe one another. She is just as fiercely loyal towards because when she was locked up in a mental institution you were the only person willing to visit her, despite the horrific things she did to you, you still reached out and helped her back into the light. She hasn’t forgotten and never will. Now you are saying you are going to be fiercely loyal to Kim in return because you feel guilty over something you did to her in the past? That’s not why family helps one another. We help each other, we are loyal towards each other, because we love each other.”

“I know, mom.” Marie nods her head.

“And before you go off doing something insane, remember that loyalty isn’t just blind loyalty. Kim would walk off of a cliff if you asked her to and I imagine you’re at the point you would do the same. Loyalty also means making sure our loved ones don’t go doing something stupid.”

“Did someone say insane and stupid?” As if on cue, Kimberly Williams comes skipping into the scene. She is wearing torn denim jeans, a black “Queens of Chaos” t-shirt, and black boots. She is carrying her beloved WASLEY penguin toy with her and she has her SCW Underground Championship wrapped around her waist. “I mean, some do think I fit both definitions soooo…”

“Crazy maybe.” Angelica smirks. “But stupid, absolutely not. Besides, you are my daughter, both of you are, and I don’t care what people say about you.”

“But crazy is what I do!” Kim whines. Angelica nods her head.

“Yes, that much is true. That is how you got yourself caught up in the damndest thing I’ve ever heard of in my wrestling career, The Long Road out of Hell.”

“Oh c’mon, mom, don’t start lecturing Kim about safety, not just because of what she’s been through during her five reigns as Underground Champion.” Marie points an accusatory finger at Angelica. “But you yourself have competed in a triple cage, haven’t you?”

“I have.” Angelica nods her head. “That’s why this particular match worries me more than most. Are you sure this is what you want, Kim? After two straight Underground Matches against David Striker. Haven’t you had enough?”

“We’re at one apiece!” Kim exclaims with a grin on her face. “We need the rubber match! My Kimmymaniacs need the rubber match!”

“Yeah, well, this Long Road out of Hell seems excessive.” Angelica shakes her head.

“At least Kim HAS a match for Taking the Leap.” Marie points out. “I still have no idea what I’m doing.” She casts a gaze at her title. “At least I have this!”

“Well I think I do have an idea of what you MIGHT be doing at Taking the Leap.” Angelica says with a knowing grin on her face.

“Oh really?”

“Yes. Before I got here, I spoke with CHBK. It looks like he’s paring you with ‘The Ronin’ Chris Dumont to be a part of a multi-team match to determine the next number one contenders for the SCW World Tag Team Championship.”

“Really? That’s a rather strange tag team pairing.” Marie shrugs her shoulders. “I get it. It isn’t like Kim is available. Still, there’s no history between us, no chemistry, nothing. Just a very random, very odd pairing.”

“Remember what you said.” Angelica points out. “No griping, no complaining. Be thankful for the opportunities you are receiving. You could become one half of the tag team champions. You could end up a double champion before all of this is over.”

“I know.” Marie forces a smile on her face. “It isn’t like I’m new to tag team wrestling. I can and will hold up my end of the bargain. If Dumont does his part, we can and will win this thing.”

“That’s the spirit!” Angelica proudly declares. “Now keep that attitude up. I’m going to talk to CHBK and confirm all of this.” She points at Marie and Kimberly. “You two behave.”

“Where’s the fun in that?” Kim asks with a smirk. Angelica laughs.

“Right.”

And with that, Angelica Jones makes her exit. Marie checks the time and sighs as she hops up off of the packing crate.

“I should probably go too.” The Phoenix states. “I have so much to do now that I’m Television Champion. Plus I have to figure out how to work with this Ronin guy and possibly get a tag title shot.” Marie starts to walk away but before she can get away, her twin sister, Kim, reaches out and grabs her by the wrist.

“Whoa, where are you going?”

“What?” Jones looks a bit confused. “I told you, I have to prepare.”

“I know, I know.” Kim nods her head. “But I think you can hold your horsies for just one moment while I give you…” The Woman Scorned produces a document “…this!”

“What is this?” Marie asks as she takes it and starts looking at it.

“Read it, silly.”

Marie takes a quick glance up at her sister and then back down at this document she holds in her hands. Then her eyes grow wide as she looks back up at Kimberly.

“It’s a deed…” she says quietly with a hint of surprise “…a deed to my house…”

“Yup!” Kim nods her head excitedly.

“I sold…” Marie’s voice cracks “…I sold this to you years ago when I first joined The Inner Peace Enlightenment Retreat.”

“That’s right.” Kim smirks knowingly. “And as you can see it’s already signed, sealed, and ready to be delivered. Once you get that bad boy recorded at the Register of Deeds your home is yours again.”

“I don’t…” tears are forming in Marie’s eyes “…I don’t understand. You kept this from me, you kept it so that you could live with Sean, my son, giving him some semblance of normalcy. But now what about that? About Sean?”

“You can take care of him yourself at your own home, silly.” Kim winks.

“You mean…”

“Look, sis, you have more than proven yourself.” Kimberly insists, as she places her hands on Marie’s shoulders. “You have been very responsible lately, and not just to me, but to mom too. You proved to us that your days of lying and manipulating, most importantly your days of being manipulated by those Inner Peace goofs, all that is over. I kept the house and your son from you for your own good and for his good. But you have proven to me that you’re ready.”

“I don’t know what to say…” Marie grins “…I just…”

“Just be happy you buffoon.” Kim slaps her on the back.

“I am happy. But Kim, seriously…” Marie looks genuinely confused as she points at Kim “…are you sure?”

“Of course.” Kim grins and wraps an arm around her sister’s shoulders. “Look, I know about you and Julianne. And no, I don’t trust her.” She pats Marie on the chest. “But I do trust you and if that’s a relationship you want, then I will not stand in your way.”

“Thanks, Kim.” Jones leans forward and embraces her twin sister in a tight hug. This is what she’s wanted; the trust of her family. She also gets her son back. Still, there is one thing that bothers her. One thing about this whole scenario that still upsets The Phoenix. Marie breaks the embrace and then looks back up at Kimberly. “Uh, Kim?”

“Yeah?”

“I need you to do me a favor.”