02-15-2020, 12:16 AM
OOC: The following (CD) takes place before the last episode of Breakdown before the Tournament (dates are posted in CD as well for reference) and the promo taking place after the latest episode of Breakdown. Roleplay 1 of 2.
January 26th, 2020
Frankfurt Prison III
Frankfurt, Germany
9:36pm
There was a particular place where Selena didn't mind feeling warm, in a toasty sense. Normally, she wasn't a fan of heat. It slowed her down, made her feel sluggish and tired – hell, one of the things she loved to do was to take a bath in a large tub (like the one she had at home in Manhattan) filled with water and ice-cubes. As if your moniker of 'Snow Queen' needed further proof of existence... her mind teased. The cold had always been her friend, companion of sorts, invigorating her and strengthening her. While several of her fellow wrestlers in SCW were reaching for the heat packs and hot showers to teal with their soreness and injuries, Selena would be grabbing the closest ice pack from the freezer (the artic-blue gel ones were her favourite).
Still, as she lay naked under the thick covers of the bed, with the equally naked form of her beloved Deanna nestled next to her, the younger woman's head resting under Selena's chin as they lay on their sides, there was not a part of Selena that disliked any form of warmth she felt in her lover's embrace.
Other than the fact you need to leave her in another twenty-five minutes... she thought glumly. This whole day, from the second she had burst into the private “conjugal room” of the Frankfurt Prison III, she had paid much more attention to the time, hating how every hour – every minute – seemed to be slipping through her fingers. What was more painful was that she had only herself to blame.
Closing her eyes a little and tightening her arms around her warm, small wife, the platinum-blonde breathed as quietly as possible as the familiar guilt assaulted her. She couldn't blame anyone for this day. She had made the choice to take Sasha's opportunity of making her one of the Buy-In captains last night with gusto! Being in Trios – having an automatic spot in it? How could she refuse it? She had been denied a chance in the tournament last year and she sure as hell didn't want to rely on the kindness of someone or on the luck of the draw. She had made the choice to be the best damn captain she could be and help lead her team to victory.
She had also made the choice to refuse to just 'take the fall' in the fatal-fourway so she could leave the arena a lot sooner. She could have let Jay or Marie or even Tommy pin her – she'd still have a chance to pick someone for her team. Oh no! That couldn't be an option. You just had to be the winner of the fatal-fourway as well. Make a statement as a person to watch in Trios. An ideal threat – which, let's face it, Jordan Majors did that better!
But oh! The self-fault based on choices didn't end there! No, because, more than anything, Selena just had to have, if not the first pick, then at least the second pick to secure her best chance of acquiring Regan Street for her team. Yes! Secure the spot for the woman who told you over and over and over again that night to LEAVE and get to Germany as soon as possible! Her best friend and sister had tried to get her to leave for the good of Deanna – But oh no, of course not! The Snow Queen had made the choice, herself, to not only wait around until her partner's match had concluded, but also stay so hidden from everyone, that she was utterly useless when she saw Xander use that bloody chair on Regan! This is all leading to a grand, total delay of approximately three to four hours from getting to her plane and flying all the way to Frankfurt, and finally causing a total loss of 5 1/2 to 6 hours of precious, intimate time, which came by only one day a month, between her and her beloved wife.
All my choices... The platinum blonde thought, her jaw clenching tightly for a few seconds, as the guilt and self-hatred washed through. However, to her surprise, she quickly felt the soft, butterfly, kisses against her clenched muscle.
“I can literally feel your jaw clenching on the top of my head.” The small redhead purred playfully as she continued her assault on her wife’s jawline. “Come on...” She teased with a mew. “Relax”.
Despite herself, Selena inhaled through her nose and exhaled through her mouth, coaxing her muscles to follow her wife's instructions and relax as much as possible. “Sorry...” She whispered, burying her nose in her beloved’s fiery mane of hair.
“You said that more than enough times today.” Deanna chastised gently. “I don't blame you.”
“But I blame myself.” Selena sighed. “My priority should always be to you. Always. First and foremost...”
Slowly, Deanna lifted her head, emerald eyes locking onto Sapphire once. “I don't-” she tried but was cut off by the older woman.
“I know you don't.” Selena interjected. “But you are allowed to be mad at me. No – you have beyond every right to be mad at me. You asked for nothing except time with me, your own wife. Something that is so limited for us...” Unable to stop herself, Selena pressed her lips to Deanna's forehead in a desperate kiss. “And yet...” she whispered against her wife's soft skin. “When we only have these twelve-hour days once a month, I just…” she paused, finding it harder and harder to not hate herself. There was no escaping the guilt. She had literally chosen SCW over her wife in this case. Chosen, even with the most noble of intentions, intentions she intended to motivate and drive her in the weeks to come, a tournament over her wife.
Tilting her head to side, Deanna’s eyes bored into Selena's. “And...” she slowly spoke. “What kind of person would that make me?”
The question was simple, but the sharp tone in Deanna’s voice kept Selena quiet, the Snow Queen unable to answer such a tone immediately – thrown off as it made her.
“What kind of person would that make me if I blamed my wife for being late because she a ) was doing her job, b ) was fighting for a chance at something that she was denied last year was something she wanted, and c ) was doing all of this just to do right by her best friend?”
Despite the serious of the question – the direct nature of it causing Selena to gulp a little – the older woman tried lamely for humor. “Well, you’re also my best...”
“I am your wife!” Deanna countered, seeing the attempt coming from a mile away. “I don't count. If anything, the marriage license makes me your best friend by default. I’m talking about a non-committed relationship here.” she rambled, inadvertently causing a small smile to perk from the corner of Selena's mouth. “And you're missing the point.” she continued. “Everything that made you late today... is what makes you you. If I get mad at you for that, what does that make me?”
Selena was quiet for a few seconds. She still didn't quite agree with her wife's statements. It shouldn't have been a simple as Deanna accepting who her wife was. Because it was a two-way street. Accepting Selena meant that Selena needed to accept Deanna. And who Deanna was was Selena’s wife! Did that not entitle her to some kind of priority? Was not her little redhead worth it?
“I know I have to share you.” She heard the younger Frost whisper, Deanna's arms tightening around Selena's waist. “And, I won't lie to you, there are times when I do feel selfish, because I want you all to myself...” despite the strength of the admittance, the redhead's voice began to shake. “But how many days... weeks... months have I taken from us by being here?”
“Don't you dare go there!” Selena warned, her head shifting to stare downward at her wife's sad expression. “Don't you fucking dare-”
“Why not?!” Deanna asked with a shrug. “If you're going to feel guilty about costing us five or six hours together, then what about all those months that I’ve cost us by being here? Months' worth of nights I've denied you sleeping with me... going on dates... making love... helping raise our children? I mean...” Her voice trailed off, and even in the dimly lit room, with the moonlight cascading through the bars of the clear window, Selena could see the tears welling up in Deanna's emerald eyes, her voice having grown more and more shaky. “I mean, if anybody is going to hate anybody-”
The train of thought was silenced harshly as Selena slammed her lips against Deanna's. There was nothing romantic or seductive about this kiss. No, this kiss was blunt, desperate, even bruising for both of them, but Selena refused to relent, gripping her wife and pulling her as close to her as possible. Despite it, or perhaps because of the closeness, she could feel the tremors shaking through Deanna's lithe frame, could feel some of her darling's tears mixing in with the kiss as Deanna clung to Selena with all she had. There was an unspoken statement in both Selena's and Deanna's self-blame, and as the two broke the harsh kiss, it was the platinum-blonde that allowed herself to word it.
“This isn't enough.” She whispered, earning a shake of the head from Deanna.
“Not even close.” The redhead whimpered, allowing a few sobs to escape her as she buried her face into her wife's neck. While they had only had three of these conjugal visits since their 'creation' of sorts, the Frost wives had begun to realize that some sort of breakdown was becoming more and more common as par for the course, especially near the end of their time together. At the start of their time, it was easy to be lost in one another, allowing their love and so many other feelings they shared to take focus. But as time, inevitably, ran out on these sessions, the grim reminder of their life now – separated by the law's decree – reared its ugly head. What else could they do for one another but hold each other and ride these painful emotions out?
As for Selena, who quietly pet her wife's head as she held her, her thoughts were moving a mile a minute. Perhaps it wasn't just the matter of doing the right thing, or protecting her sister, or even securing her spot in the Trios Tournament that had caused her to stay as long as she had at Day of Infamy...
Perhaps, in some sad way, it was also because, at least in SCW, she was useful.
At her job, as “The Face of SCW”, she felt she could do so much. Just in the last 24 hours, she had influenced the Trios Tournament in terms of its build up and defeated two Hall of Famers and the basic number one contender for the Adrenaline championship! In SCW, She could defeat opponents and continue to prove herself as one of the best! She could continue to fight for a set of beliefs and values, constantly striving to do the right thing, which is what had made up her mind to choose Regan Street as her team partner in the tournament!
It all boiled down to one thing: in SCW, Selena could do something – could make a difference. She could change things for the better – even defeat monsters like some great hero. She could make good things – happy endings – happen for so many people.
But here? In this prison? She was less than useless. There was nothing she could give. Nothing she could do. Nothing she could say that could remove her wife from this vile sentence of 10 years. Nothing could bring her Deanna home. Nothing except to wait, a fact that, even in the moment, Selena could not accept.
The fact that, regardless of being a good wrestler, being the damn “face”… it wasn’t some super power. She couldn’t just fly in and save her wife and then fly her back to Manhattan where she’ll be safe. She couldn’t change the judge's mind. She couldn't simply hire the best lawyer or the best legal team or the best defence team or whatever was needed to perform such a miracle. And, though every part of her wanted to, she couldn't silence that damned, lying, bastard that had accused her wife – couldn't silence him with a swift kick to the head.
She, Selena Frost, could do nothing. And she was getting fucking sick of it!
*********************************
February 5th, 2020
Rogers Arena
Vancouver, British Columbia
“I don't care!” Selena growled into the screen. “I'm done waiting! I want her out of that prison!”
Rationally, speaking, the former world champion knew that she must have looked ridiculous shouting at a laptop in a changeroom. She also knew that what she was demanding couldn't reasonably be done by the person on the screen that she was shouting too. But, again, she did not find herself caring. Angrily, she drove the palm of her hand against her forehead, rubbing it angrily.
“I- Deanna and I can't keep living like this, Jean.” her voice was reduced to a whisper, but she fought back against the tremors she felt that threatened to become a crying-fit. “Every time we're together, we inevitably have a breakdown.”
On the screen in front of her, the Skype video chat between her and her oldest friend, Jean Black sighed as he ran a thin hand through his hair. “Selena-” he tried, his voice as comforting as the Alaskan detective could be.
“She's innocent.” Selena declared – more just to stop whatever Jean was going to say than to actually convince him. “You know she is.”
“I know she is.” Jean repeated strongly. “But that isn't enough. We've...”
His voice was tired, more emotionally than physically. How many times had he had this conversation in the last few months with his old friend? How many times had he hated to be the voice of reason when Selena's need for her wife – missing the love of her life – became too much? True, the platinum-blonde had some friends... had some people that she could turn to – but what could they do? None of them were lawyers or investigators or whatever. It was just him and Zelda because...
“You heard the judge.” Jean tried slowly. “He won't entertain any notions of an appeal unless new evidence is brought to light-”
“Than can't we go over his head?!” Selena asked, his hands gripping into fists, fingernails digging into the skin of her palms. “Get another judge or something?”
An aggravated sigh left Jean's lips. “Selena, we've been over this time and time again.”
“There just has to be-”
“THERE ISN'T!”
Selena had faced down monsters like Xander and Giovanni without flinching. Had stood across from some of the most dangerous wrestlers in the world – but the shout from Jean caused her to shift back from where she sat on the carpeted floor. She hadn't expected that from the detective.
“You've exhausted every detective and lawyer within a hundred miles of Frankfurt. No one will take your case because no one can find any solid evidence to grant an appeal! How much have you spent on them?” he dared to ask, causing the Snow Queen to look away, her eyes on the carpet. Perhaps it was the scrutinizing glare and judgmental tone from Jean, making the adult woman feel like a child and preventing her from admitting to the thousands she had spent on multiple detectives and lawyers in Frankfurt – the thousands she had thrown away on men and women that just didn't care enough to dig deeper.
What else could I do? her mind rebelled. Nothing? I'm already useless enough as it is!
A bout of silence hung in between the old friends, Selena still refusing to look at the screen,. Her eyes took in the simple-colored walls of the change room in the arena. She was still dressed in her wrestling attire, having just finished her match for the house show in B.C. It had served as a solid distraction for a few hours, being used to hype the Trios Tournament, the different teams – hell, she had even stuck around in the back to watch all the hype surrounding Aaron Blackbourne challenging James Evans for the World title. Still, time continued to go on – and she soon found her mind returning back to where it always went.
To her wife...
To Deanna...
To that god-awful prison...
To this feeling of being utterly powerless...
Slowly, Selena turned her head back to the screen – back to Jean. “I'm sick of feeling powerless, Jean. You have no idea what this feels like.”
“I can-”
“No, you can't!” Selena countered. “Answer me this simple question, detective, and if I'm wrong, then I'll apologize and hang up this call and you'll never be bothered by me-”
“It's not a bother.” Jean tried. “I just can't change what is-”
“Just answer the question for me, Jean.” Selena steeled herself, her shoulders rolling back. “What if it was Zelda?”
She saw the question be processed in Jean's mind. First, his eyes widened a little in shock. Then the muscles in his jaw tightened, then it was followed by a tight, harsh smile across his face.
“Tell me you wouldn't be doing what I'm doing if it was her.” Selena dared, referring to Jean's fiancee and family friend/distant relative of the Frost family.
“Alright.” he finally replied. “You've got me there.”
“And she would do the same if it was you.” Selena whispered.
“Except there is a difference.”
The bold statement from Jean, once again, caught Selena off-guard.
“There is a difference between you and me.” Jean replied.
“What?” Selena asked. “And please tell me this isn't some macho-cheese comeback or something.”
“No...”
A long sigh came from the detective before he spoke. “Ten years ago, I was given a case to solve – a jewel heist slash murder.”
“Funny how you put the order of that – I'd think murder would be first of the two.”
“Order of occurrence.” Jean dismissed Selena with a wave of his hand. “Anyway, I knew who did it. I had tracked him down – the bastard had even dared me to try and catch up, goading me every step of the way.”
An eyebrow quirked up from the young Frost. “He admitted that he did it?”
“He used language that could be misconstrued in court, but we both knew.”
“So, you caught him.”
“Not right away. He had alibis for his alibis. Had everything pointed to everywhere other than him. Nothing I found could stick to him for long. He countered me at every turn.”
“Probably why he was so smug.” Selena stated, earning a nod from the detective on the screen.
“For months and months, we kept this up. He would drop a hint or point me towards something or I'd get a 'break' and he'd just sidestep over and over again. Nothing I could find could halt him. And the jewellers? What did they care? They had insurance on the gems, so they were covered. But the man that was killed? A common security officer. No insurance. Leaving paycheck to paycheck for him and his son.”
Selena's eyes widened a little. Why had Jean never told her this story? Was it a failure of his? Was there something more? Despite herself, she leaned a little forward, wrapping her arms around her knees, which were brought up to her chest.
“Without a conviction, no one was willing to help the boy beyond leaving him stranded in Pilgrim Springs near Anchorage.”
Selena remembered that place – the orphanage her Elsianna had spent the first five years of her life before Selena had rediscovered her. She felt the pull in her heart at such a memory.
“So... I made a choice.”
Because THAT always means a good thing... Selena's mind worried.
“I waited until he came to me to goad again. And as I walked, with him following me, I lead him down into an alley, far from prying eyes.”
Jean was quiet for a moment, allowing this part of the story to sink in for Selena.
“Once there, I took out a gun with a silencer, and shot him through the calf.”
Selena's mouth hung open. She didn't have issue believing that Jean knew how to use a gun, but to use one without provocation?
“I won't lie to you, Selena.” Jean continued, his tone a bit darker. “There was a certain amount of satisfaction seeing that bastard squirm on the ground as he clutched his leg.”
“Wha...what did you do then?” She hated herself for asking.
“Simple.” Jean shrugged. “I pulled him so he was sitting against the wall of the alley, told him that I was done with our little game and that I was going to jump right to the finish line. One way... or another.” using his thumb and forefinger, Jean held his 'gun' in front of the camera so Selena could see it. “And as I pressed the gun into his temple, I gave him a choice – live the rest of his life in prison, or don't live a life at all.”
“You-” Selena's jaw trembled as she heard this. “How could you?” she was finally able to ask.
“You would defend such a man?”
“No!” She quickly replied. “But what you did? What if you were wrong it wasn't him? Maybe he was just some jackass looking for his fifteen seconds of fame! Maybe you had missed something-”
“It was him.” Jean laughed at the young girl's attempts.
“Even so! The ends don't justify the means!”
“And that, dearie, is exactly the difference between you and me.”
Jean's statement hung in the air, the accusation effectively silencing Selena.
“You see, child.” his tone was condescending. “The difference between you and me is that, if Zelda was where Deanna is right now? And all the attempts you pulled had failed? Then, unlike you, I would look at everything else. I would go through every other connection and person that I knew. Crooked, underhanded, I wouldn't give a DAMN!” he stopped for a moment, his next words carrying a heavy weight. “I'd forfeit everything...”
Selena felt her jaw tremble. “Even...”
“Even my own beliefs and morals. Because nothing would be more important than getting her back!”
She felt her whole body clench – every muscle tighten – as she processed Jean's words. Slowly, she was able to find her voice again.
“Wha...what happened to your guy?” she asked, earning a smug smile from Jean.
“He gave me the one piece of evidence that could lock him away. He told me where the jewels were. One phone call and finding his fingerprints all over them and he was put away.”
“But what about the murder?”
“Video surveillance caught the masked burglar shoot and kill the security guard. One linked to the other.” Jean concluded his story.
Neither person – detective or Snow Queen – spoke for several minutes, both letting the story hang heavily between them. For Selena, she could not 100% agree with Jean. Yes, he had done the right thing... but the means...
She shook her head. No, it was a slippery slope at best when it came to that. People doing bad things for the right reasons or for goals they deemed 'justifiable'. Hell, her two biggest haters – Bree Lancaster and Sienna Swann – were shining examples of that. In fact, she could easily run a list, maybe in alphabetical order, from Ace Marshall all the way to Xander Valentine of people that followed such views of “the ends justifying the means”.
But this wasn't some wrestling match or some title with a money bonus if you won it. This wasn't some prize fight or tournament. This was her wife that was being discussed. The mother of her children. A woman wrongfully accused of- Selena bit down on on her bottom lip, her eyes shut for a moment to drive the thought out. She was set to lose ten years of her life if Selena continued on the path she was going.
”How many days, weeks, months have I taken from us by being here?”
Her wife's words echoed in her mind, a message that had haunted Selena both awake and in her dreams for days. And the feeling or powerlessness? How much longer would she have to feel this way? Even if they waited ten years – she knew she would never be free of it if they just waited. There would always be that guilt – that self-hatred of taking away ten years of their lives together.
“I...” she took a shaky breath. She was doing all she could to help right a wrong done to her sister, Regan.
Regan.
For a moment, and certainly not the first time in her life, Selena wished she was more like her best friend. Regan wouldn't have hesitated if it was her husband, David. Nothing would be 'off-limits' and nothing would be 'impossible'. The Hellcat would have laughed and said it was 'all for love, dammit!'. For a moment, Selena almost laughed at the image in her head – that of Regan storming the Frankfurt prison, picking her husband up bridal-style, and carrying him out of the prison while “Love Lifts Us Up Where We Belong” played in the background.
It was a funny image, but it did not diminish the truth. Like Jean, Regan followed her own rules and her own heart – even if she was trying to do right by SCW now. The woman had sold her own Trios contract for her daughter, whom Selena thought was just amazing. There was no question that Regan would do anything for her family – consequences be damned.
So why can't you?
“Have you been holding back because of me?” she asked quietly, unsure if Jean heard her. Slowly, she lifted her head to gaze at her old friend. “Have you been holding back certain leads and places because you thought I wouldn't approve?”
Taking a deep breath, Jean held up one finger. “One lead.” he stated, though the bitterness and sadness in his voice made it clear that this was a path that Selena would not like to tread. “Recently...”
Selena's eyes widened. “What is it?” she asked. “I don't-” she stopped herself but only for a second. “I don't care what it is. Tell me!”
“Trust me. You'll care.” Jean sighed. “It's one of the best lawyers I know of. And I think...I think she knows about your case.”
“Wha- How?” Selena asked. “It's been kept quiet and-”
“I don't know how.” Jean answered. “But, as of a month ago, she passed the bar... specifically for Germany, which she's never been to.”
The platinum-blonde tilted her head, her braid shifting slightly from her movements. “That doesn't make sense.” she concluded. “Why would someone randomly complete a bar test for a country they've never visited – is she moving there?”
“No.” Jean answered.
“Well, why?”
“It'll make sense when I tell you where she is now.” the age of the detective was on clear display as he spoke. Selena could see the wrinkles on his face and the bags under his eyes.
“Just tell me.” Selena ordered. “I said I don't care what this lead is – if she can get Deanna-”
“She's here, Selena.” Jean confessed.
“Here?”
“Here. In Nome.”
It took only a second for Selena's brain to put all the pieces together. A lawyer in Nome – specifically displaying something like this... wanting to get Selena's attention...
“No.” she said briskly. “No way! No fucking way!”
“Selena-” Jean tried as he watched Selena push herself to her feet, wobbling only a little from her legs falling asleep, as she marched around the change room.
“You're out of your mind!” Selena spat. “There's no way she will help me! She'll probably ask for everything! The fortune, the children! She'll want something that I can't possibly give her!”
“What if she doesn't? I mean, why go through all this trouble just to shun you?”
“Because she HATES me!” Selena spat as she sat back down in front of the computer. “You know she does! She hates that my life turned out okay. That I actually got out of Nome while she's stuck there! That I have children and she can't! That I'm... I'm...”
“The Snow Queen?” Jean finished, earning a nod from Selena.
“She won't help me.” Selena concluded. “Even if I go to Nome crawling on my hands and knees. Even if I beg and promise her all the money I have – she won't help me. She just wants to see me beg. She'll send me out laughing her head off.”
She sat there in silence, her teeth biting at the fingernail of her thumb. She could picture it – hell, she had lived through it in the past during her way to keep Elsianna and David in her family. If it was a matter of pride, then screw that, Selena would go there right now. If it was a matter of money, then again, she'd go there with as much as she could amass. No, it was just pointless. What ever that bitter woman was doing to get Selena's attention, it sure as hell wasn't going to get her any closer to get Deanna out of prison.
“But what if she doesn't?”
The question, posed by Jean, caused Selena to turn her head back to the screen, her eyes moist with forming tears.
“What if you got to lose but your pride?” he asked.
She opened her mouth to retort but no words came out. Fortunately, she was spared from making a bigger fool of herself by the sound of the change room door turning, causing Selena to turn back to Jean, utter a quick “I'll think about it.” before terminating the call, closing the laptop and sitting back against the couch behind her as Regan Street strolled into the room, Mikalea and Deliliah following quietly behind it.
“Oh yeah.” Regan smiled as she stretched her arms and back. “Nothing like a solid back and forth fight to loosen up the joints!”
“G...good match?” Selena asked quietly. “No problems?”
“Nah. Basic stuff and-” Regan stopped as she opened her eyes from her stretch to see Selena sitting there, her face smiling, but her eyes. “What happened?”
“Wha-” Selena tried but stopped as the Hellcat, seeming in investigator-mode, plopped down right beside her, grabbing the pale women's chin with her hand.
“You've been crying.”
“No, I haven't!” Selena denied.
“Well, then you've been close! Cause there's tears there!”
“Maybe you're just grabbing my chin too hard!” Selena countered.
The deadpan expression Regan's face made her next remark all the more obvious. “Hunny, I bashed your head in with a monitor and didn't see one teardrop. You think I'm gonna buy that BS?”
Biting her lower lip, Selena's eyes quickly glanced behind her to where Mikalea and Delilah stood, concerned expressions on their face. Turning her head as well, Regan regarded the two.
“Why don't you take Delilah to catering, sis. I think someone needs some one-on-one time.”
“Yeah...okay.” Mikalea nodded in understand before gently escorting the younger Delilah out of the room, closing it behind her.
Now that they were alone, Regan turned her head towards Selena, her face a grim expression of seriousness. “Okay. Go.” she stated.
“Okay...” Carefully, the platinum-blonde pushed herself to her feet and began pacing the room, her hands clasping and unclasping one another nervously. She had no idea how she could explain this to Regan – could she be upfront? That would be the best...but... despite this being so, her mouth was moving before her brain realized what she had said.
“Let me ask you something hypothetically...”
Regan raised an eyebrow. “Okay.” she answered slowly.
“Last person you would ever ask for a favour? I mean, not even if-”
“Syren.”
Selena stopped, turning to look at Regan with surprise. “That was fast.” she answered. “You didn't even have to think about that, did you?”
“Do I need to explain why?”
“No! No!” Selena quickly assured her. “No reason to go digging under that rock – gods know we're going to have to stomach teaming with one of them...” she muttered the last part before suddenly clapping her hands to refocus herself.
“Okay.” she turned back to Regan. “Anyway, let's say that David's in trouble.”
“Your David or my David?”
“Your David.”
“Got it.”
“Now, David's in trouble.
“What kind of trouble?”
“I am NOT playing twenty questions with you.” Selena interjected. “David's in trouble and the only person who MIGHT be able to help him is Syren. But she doesn't want to talk to him. She wants YOU to go to her and ask her. And I mean 'ask her'. There might be gravelling, begging, saying things you never would say – I can't express enough the depths you'd have to go to get her help.”
Before her, Selena saw Regan's eyes narrow at the Snow Queen, her arms crossed across her chest and the black catsuit she wore. “Nobody else can help?”
Selena merely shook her head.
“And it's big trouble?”
A nod from the platinum-blonde.
“Then yeah. I would go to Syren and do whatever she wanted.”
A sigh came from Selena. “See. I knew you would say that. I just don't get how. How can you leave with that?” she held a hand up to stop Regan from interjecting, as the Hellcat seemed annoyed with Selena's choice of words. “I'm not saying you're wrong, Regan. I'm not. I didn't think you were wrong with the whole Trios thing... but I mean... You've come so far. With your morals and your career – you've turned it all around... What if.... what if Syren made you do something far worse than just handing over a contract? What if she made you sell out all your morals? You'd still do it?”
It took a glance to the floor for a split second before Regan nodded her head. “Yeah...basically.”
A moment of silence hung in the air as the two women looked at each other, allowing Regan to explain. “Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't piss on her if she was on fire, but if it's David's well being that is at stake? Much as I would hate myself for awhile, there's nothing I wouldn't do for him.”
For a moment, merely a moment, Selena spotted something in Regan's eyes. Something that wasn't entirely associated the Hellcat. A gleam? A twinkle? A dreamy look?
The Snow Queen had seen it before – every time Deanna looked at her. True love. her mind whispered, reminding the young Frost of how that felt when she, herself, looked into her beloved's eyes.
“This about Deanna?” Regan's thoughts interrupted her, the Hellcat gaze back in place.
Selena nodded. “I could...there might be a way to help her... but I'm not sure if she'll help...”
Her sister shrugged. “Besides your pride, what have you got to lose?”
“I...”
Selena thought about it – was it really so basic? Was it really something as simple as that?
“If she says, 'no', then you're no worse off than you are now. If she agrees but the price is something you know Deanna wouldn't want you to pay? Then you can say 'no', spit in her face and walk away.”
“Spit in her face?” Selena asked.
“Well, I was going to say 'key her car' but that seemed out of place for you.”
“You would key Syren's car?” Selena asked incredulously.
“Well, I might run her over with it, first.” Regan teased, sticking her tongue out playfully.
Rolling her eyes, Selena flopped on the couch, not having to wait long for the young Hellcat to join her. “Bottom line?” Regan started. “Hear her out. Even if it hurts, even if your pride hurts afterwards.”
Slowly, Selena nodded her head – though she wasn't certain she could follow her teammate's advice. “Not sure if I am ready to face her.”
She suddenly felt a slap on her knee by the older blonde. “Then I'll tell you what!” she seemed suddenly inspired as she turned to Selena. “Let's take a day or two to clear your head!”
“What?” the young Frost asked.
“Come with me home for the rest of the weekend! We can spend a day or two working through this and whatever else bothers us.”
The platinum-blonde bit her lower lip. It sounded tempting, and with the house shows being so close, inter-lapping over the weekend, it didn't leave much time for her to run to Germany...
“I don't-” she started.
“Oh come on.” urged the Hellcat. “I think it would do you some good. Also, it's the only free time we'll have before Trios.”
“It is?!” Selena's eyes widened in surprise before she reached into her pocket to check her phone. Sure enough, the few days off they had till Breakdown was all that was left, thanks to the house shows...
Though those might need to be...
“Selena...” came Regan's voice. “I think we both need this. I...” she seemed unsure of her words at first, but, typical of the Hellcat, she plunged in headfirst. “I am beyond grateful for what you did – are doing – for me, picking me and all. But... all that stuff you said? On Breakdown? 'Right the Wrongs'? It's kinda become my responsibility, too.”
“It's not-”
“Not like that.” Regan interrupted. “You did this for me – now I need to make sure you don't regret it.” she stared down her sister, green eyes against sapphire. So different than Deanna's and yet, so similar with that fire in them.... “I'm going to get you a Trios contract, too. That's my responsibility.”
Reaching out, Selena was surprised to suddenly feel Regan's hands holding her own. Casting a glance down at the four hands linked together, she gazed back up at Regan before releasing a breath. “Alright.” she whispered. “You're right. We can't afford to slow down now.”
“Awesome!” Regan half-cheered, clapping her hands excitedly before she begun helping Selena pack for the travel.
For the Snow Queen, part of her was relieved – excited to be focusing on wrestling with her sister – but another part of her couldn't shake the dread of what Regan's advice had prompted her to do. Regan and Jean seemed to be pointing to the same course for her...
And Selena wasn't so sure she would be able to travel it...
___________________________________
Christy Matthews,
As you can imagine, and probably with help from Ravyn if you didn't, you predicted this ever since your name was drawn to this team – this Royal Letter is simply for you. As I said, you probably expected it, so I won't insult you by thinking this would be any sort of surprise for you.
But just as I am not going to insult you with such things, neither am I going to pander you with platitudes or warm greetings. We both know they would be insincere, given our history.
So, rather than do all of that: let's cut the catchphrases, conspiracy theories, and twisting of narratives and get down to it. You're set to team-up with Regan and I for the Trios Tournament. One half of the tag-team champions.... teaming with one of the teams that are striving to take away her championship...
Well, from a talent perspective? Regan and I may have hit the damn lottery. I mean, the roster is massive, obviously, and, if our Breakdown match was any indication, we could have done a hell of a lot worse in terms of ability in drawing you. You're dangerous, you're driven and you'll do anything to win. So, from a 'by the numbers' standpoint, we were rather fortunate.
But from a personality/morality standpoint? Let's just say you're not even on my top twenty of people I'd prefer to work with. I don't really care if you'll scoff at that, but, quite frankly – and personally – I would have much rather have drawn someone like Owen Cruze or Alistaire Allocco, Asher Hayes or Aaron Blackbourn – it's a rather long list, but you? You would be at the bottom with Syren, Sienna, Bree – hell, even Giovanni Aries placed higher than you – not by much but I would rather have picked him.
Know why, Christy? Because as good as you are in the ring? As dangerous as you are in the squared circle? You've become just the same as the Siennas, Brees, the Aces and, recently, the Braddocks. People who would rather take the path of least resistance. People that think “SCW owes me”. People that would rather take shortcuts and handouts and gods know what else – anything but work hard and prove themselves in the ring.
Tell me I'm wrong, Christy. Tell me that isn't exactly what happened when you had Ravyn and Richter down there, ready to jump me when the chance presented itself, last week during our match. Tell me that isn't what happened when Katya had Alexander Crowe as the guest referee when you tried to take the United States title from me.
That's why, Christy. That's why I'm not thrilled with you being on this team. Because, despite the amazing talent the three of us bring to this tournament, all I can see – all I can picture – is the same BS that happened the last time I was in this tournament. The accomplishment of winning the whole thing – first time I ever did – being tainted by deals, run-ins and interference, all of Infamous' same old tricks – your same old tricks!
And I don't want that for this team! I know Regan doesn't want that for this team! She and I? We've wanted to do this whole 'tag-team thing' with earning every opportunity we get. And whether you want to complain and whine about Frozen Hell being closer than ever for the tag-team titles, 'earning it' is exactly what we have done to be in this tournament and what we will continue to do every step of the way. And, in my case, for the first time, I have a chance to not only win this tournament on my own merit, and as a leader, but also to right the biggest wrong we've had so far this year.
So... rather than pander to you, Christy, I'm going to do something I, honestly, never thought I would have to do. I'm going to relate to you. I tried to do that last Breakdown in the middle of the ring. Remember, Christy? I tried to relate to you as a fellow wrestler.
And you scoffed at me.
Well... let's say that I don't know what I am talking about. Let's say that you're NOT simply the puppet of Ravyn. Let's say that you're still the woman that won Trios and then set a new concept by being one of the first people to cash it in for the main-event spot at Rise to Greatness. Let's say you're the same person that was the second woman to ever win the World championship and simply someone that got suckered by the promises of Infamous.
You're not under their control, Christy? You are, in fact, your own woman that can do whatever you want on your own?
Well... if that was the case – why the hell did you side with them in the first place? How did that come about? Because I seem to recall you telling the world how you did it so you could get a shot at the United States title and the tag-team titles. I seem to remember Katya rewarding you for that when you backstabbed all of SCW, and Ravyn promising you a chance at the tag-titles for months. But you're not a sellout, right? You're not a puppet, huh?
That's the point I was trying to make last night, Christy. I don't believe me – no one in SCW believes you. Because your actions speak far louder than words. And that's why, instead of scoffing at my words, Christy, you need to be really thinking about them.
Because just as I want to prove myself as capable of winning this tournament through ability, rather than just being a punching bag and taking a beating like in 2018, you need to show SCW – show the world – that I'm wrong. Put aside the tag-team championship for a second – I'm talking doing this as a wrestler. Doing this, not for Infamous, but for you. You NEED to show the world just what you've been bragging about. That you haven't lost a step. That you're still your own woman and your own wrestler. Because people aren't saying what you said last night: That if we lose, it will be “Regan and Selena's fault”. Regan and I? There's not a single person that can question what we can do on our own. Hell, I beat you just last week, didn't I? It's you, Christy, that's needed Ravyn all this time to be able to win and it's you that, despite your talent, can't seem to handle the fight on her own.
But, like I said, you have the ability to silence that doubt. Silence those notions and, not only that, you'll actually have the ability to do the right thing. I know that doesn't matter much to you these days, but let's face it, even with Infamous, even with you, you know when something is wrong. Yes, you've made deals backstage and Ravyn can manipulate with the best of them, but deep down, at least for you, I know that there is a line that we, as wrestlers, shouldn't cross. And, let's face it, Christy, Sienna Swann crossed that line. Blackmailing Regan by using Regan's daughter, just to take her Trios from her?
Tell me there's nothing wrong with that, Christy. Tell me that that doesn't piss you off on some level. That an accomplishment like winning the Trios Tournament - something you and I both know something about – that accomplishment being done not by hard work or ability, but by having someone else do all the work and then stealing it from them. Tell me that that doesn't touch a nerve for you as a wrestler. Tell me that doesn't just spit in the face of how hard you worked to win it! Tell me... I dare you!
I'm not afraid to admit that it did bother me. Scratch that. It infuriated me, Christy! Not only as a friend but also as a wrestler. Because Regan didn't deserve that. She deserved the chance to cash in her Trios for whatever she wanted. She deserved the chance to use that contract she earned, just like I did and just like you did. And just like the winners of this year should be allowed to do.
I mean, what if it was your daughter, Christy? What if someone used your daughter after you won Trios years ago to make you hand over your contract? That isn't me making a threat, this is me telling you to actually think for yourself in this case. I'm not asking you as a wrestler, I'm not asking you so you can run to Ravyn and get her take on this. I'm asking you on the most fundamental level that you and I share.
From one mother to another.
What Regan did? It was the same thing that you and I would have done. How many times have you said to me of your desire to have your daughter be proud of you? That nothing was more important to you than her? Of being a role-model that she can look up to? Practically every time we've faced, you've mentioned that in some way.
You say you'd 'do it for your daughter', well, this is your chance!
This is your chance to accomplish something the right way – accomplish something that you don't have to sugar-coat or lie to your daughter about. You can show your contract to her proudly. You can tell her how you fought alongside two other women and, like them, fought to do the right thing – correcting an injustice that was brought here by Sienna. You can see the glow in your child's eyes as she stares at you, her mother, proudly. You can not only put your own career back on track, as I said on Breakdown, but you can show your daughter what it means to do 'the right thing' and to actually be a hero – if only for one single night.
Or... you can continue being Ravyn's little puppet.
Really, Christy, it's your choice. Either way, it's not going to stop Regan and I from coming after your tag-team titles after this is all over and it sure as hell isn't going to stop us from fighting to win this whole damn tournament with or without you. But to be honest? After seeing what this tournament can do for Regan, for me, and even for you... just this one time, I rather have you working with us than against us.
But, as I said... the choice is really up to you. Choose wisely.
Sincerely.
Selena Michelle Frost
The Dark Side of the Sun
“The Limits of Enduring...”
“The Limits of Enduring...”
January 26th, 2020
Frankfurt Prison III
Frankfurt, Germany
9:36pm
There was a particular place where Selena didn't mind feeling warm, in a toasty sense. Normally, she wasn't a fan of heat. It slowed her down, made her feel sluggish and tired – hell, one of the things she loved to do was to take a bath in a large tub (like the one she had at home in Manhattan) filled with water and ice-cubes. As if your moniker of 'Snow Queen' needed further proof of existence... her mind teased. The cold had always been her friend, companion of sorts, invigorating her and strengthening her. While several of her fellow wrestlers in SCW were reaching for the heat packs and hot showers to teal with their soreness and injuries, Selena would be grabbing the closest ice pack from the freezer (the artic-blue gel ones were her favourite).
Still, as she lay naked under the thick covers of the bed, with the equally naked form of her beloved Deanna nestled next to her, the younger woman's head resting under Selena's chin as they lay on their sides, there was not a part of Selena that disliked any form of warmth she felt in her lover's embrace.
Other than the fact you need to leave her in another twenty-five minutes... she thought glumly. This whole day, from the second she had burst into the private “conjugal room” of the Frankfurt Prison III, she had paid much more attention to the time, hating how every hour – every minute – seemed to be slipping through her fingers. What was more painful was that she had only herself to blame.
Closing her eyes a little and tightening her arms around her warm, small wife, the platinum-blonde breathed as quietly as possible as the familiar guilt assaulted her. She couldn't blame anyone for this day. She had made the choice to take Sasha's opportunity of making her one of the Buy-In captains last night with gusto! Being in Trios – having an automatic spot in it? How could she refuse it? She had been denied a chance in the tournament last year and she sure as hell didn't want to rely on the kindness of someone or on the luck of the draw. She had made the choice to be the best damn captain she could be and help lead her team to victory.
She had also made the choice to refuse to just 'take the fall' in the fatal-fourway so she could leave the arena a lot sooner. She could have let Jay or Marie or even Tommy pin her – she'd still have a chance to pick someone for her team. Oh no! That couldn't be an option. You just had to be the winner of the fatal-fourway as well. Make a statement as a person to watch in Trios. An ideal threat – which, let's face it, Jordan Majors did that better!
But oh! The self-fault based on choices didn't end there! No, because, more than anything, Selena just had to have, if not the first pick, then at least the second pick to secure her best chance of acquiring Regan Street for her team. Yes! Secure the spot for the woman who told you over and over and over again that night to LEAVE and get to Germany as soon as possible! Her best friend and sister had tried to get her to leave for the good of Deanna – But oh no, of course not! The Snow Queen had made the choice, herself, to not only wait around until her partner's match had concluded, but also stay so hidden from everyone, that she was utterly useless when she saw Xander use that bloody chair on Regan! This is all leading to a grand, total delay of approximately three to four hours from getting to her plane and flying all the way to Frankfurt, and finally causing a total loss of 5 1/2 to 6 hours of precious, intimate time, which came by only one day a month, between her and her beloved wife.
All my choices... The platinum blonde thought, her jaw clenching tightly for a few seconds, as the guilt and self-hatred washed through. However, to her surprise, she quickly felt the soft, butterfly, kisses against her clenched muscle.
“I can literally feel your jaw clenching on the top of my head.” The small redhead purred playfully as she continued her assault on her wife’s jawline. “Come on...” She teased with a mew. “Relax”.
Despite herself, Selena inhaled through her nose and exhaled through her mouth, coaxing her muscles to follow her wife's instructions and relax as much as possible. “Sorry...” She whispered, burying her nose in her beloved’s fiery mane of hair.
“You said that more than enough times today.” Deanna chastised gently. “I don't blame you.”
“But I blame myself.” Selena sighed. “My priority should always be to you. Always. First and foremost...”
Slowly, Deanna lifted her head, emerald eyes locking onto Sapphire once. “I don't-” she tried but was cut off by the older woman.
“I know you don't.” Selena interjected. “But you are allowed to be mad at me. No – you have beyond every right to be mad at me. You asked for nothing except time with me, your own wife. Something that is so limited for us...” Unable to stop herself, Selena pressed her lips to Deanna's forehead in a desperate kiss. “And yet...” she whispered against her wife's soft skin. “When we only have these twelve-hour days once a month, I just…” she paused, finding it harder and harder to not hate herself. There was no escaping the guilt. She had literally chosen SCW over her wife in this case. Chosen, even with the most noble of intentions, intentions she intended to motivate and drive her in the weeks to come, a tournament over her wife.
Tilting her head to side, Deanna’s eyes bored into Selena's. “And...” she slowly spoke. “What kind of person would that make me?”
The question was simple, but the sharp tone in Deanna’s voice kept Selena quiet, the Snow Queen unable to answer such a tone immediately – thrown off as it made her.
“What kind of person would that make me if I blamed my wife for being late because she a ) was doing her job, b ) was fighting for a chance at something that she was denied last year was something she wanted, and c ) was doing all of this just to do right by her best friend?”
Despite the serious of the question – the direct nature of it causing Selena to gulp a little – the older woman tried lamely for humor. “Well, you’re also my best...”
“I am your wife!” Deanna countered, seeing the attempt coming from a mile away. “I don't count. If anything, the marriage license makes me your best friend by default. I’m talking about a non-committed relationship here.” she rambled, inadvertently causing a small smile to perk from the corner of Selena's mouth. “And you're missing the point.” she continued. “Everything that made you late today... is what makes you you. If I get mad at you for that, what does that make me?”
Selena was quiet for a few seconds. She still didn't quite agree with her wife's statements. It shouldn't have been a simple as Deanna accepting who her wife was. Because it was a two-way street. Accepting Selena meant that Selena needed to accept Deanna. And who Deanna was was Selena’s wife! Did that not entitle her to some kind of priority? Was not her little redhead worth it?
“I know I have to share you.” She heard the younger Frost whisper, Deanna's arms tightening around Selena's waist. “And, I won't lie to you, there are times when I do feel selfish, because I want you all to myself...” despite the strength of the admittance, the redhead's voice began to shake. “But how many days... weeks... months have I taken from us by being here?”
“Don't you dare go there!” Selena warned, her head shifting to stare downward at her wife's sad expression. “Don't you fucking dare-”
“Why not?!” Deanna asked with a shrug. “If you're going to feel guilty about costing us five or six hours together, then what about all those months that I’ve cost us by being here? Months' worth of nights I've denied you sleeping with me... going on dates... making love... helping raise our children? I mean...” Her voice trailed off, and even in the dimly lit room, with the moonlight cascading through the bars of the clear window, Selena could see the tears welling up in Deanna's emerald eyes, her voice having grown more and more shaky. “I mean, if anybody is going to hate anybody-”
The train of thought was silenced harshly as Selena slammed her lips against Deanna's. There was nothing romantic or seductive about this kiss. No, this kiss was blunt, desperate, even bruising for both of them, but Selena refused to relent, gripping her wife and pulling her as close to her as possible. Despite it, or perhaps because of the closeness, she could feel the tremors shaking through Deanna's lithe frame, could feel some of her darling's tears mixing in with the kiss as Deanna clung to Selena with all she had. There was an unspoken statement in both Selena's and Deanna's self-blame, and as the two broke the harsh kiss, it was the platinum-blonde that allowed herself to word it.
“This isn't enough.” She whispered, earning a shake of the head from Deanna.
“Not even close.” The redhead whimpered, allowing a few sobs to escape her as she buried her face into her wife's neck. While they had only had three of these conjugal visits since their 'creation' of sorts, the Frost wives had begun to realize that some sort of breakdown was becoming more and more common as par for the course, especially near the end of their time together. At the start of their time, it was easy to be lost in one another, allowing their love and so many other feelings they shared to take focus. But as time, inevitably, ran out on these sessions, the grim reminder of their life now – separated by the law's decree – reared its ugly head. What else could they do for one another but hold each other and ride these painful emotions out?
As for Selena, who quietly pet her wife's head as she held her, her thoughts were moving a mile a minute. Perhaps it wasn't just the matter of doing the right thing, or protecting her sister, or even securing her spot in the Trios Tournament that had caused her to stay as long as she had at Day of Infamy...
Perhaps, in some sad way, it was also because, at least in SCW, she was useful.
At her job, as “The Face of SCW”, she felt she could do so much. Just in the last 24 hours, she had influenced the Trios Tournament in terms of its build up and defeated two Hall of Famers and the basic number one contender for the Adrenaline championship! In SCW, She could defeat opponents and continue to prove herself as one of the best! She could continue to fight for a set of beliefs and values, constantly striving to do the right thing, which is what had made up her mind to choose Regan Street as her team partner in the tournament!
It all boiled down to one thing: in SCW, Selena could do something – could make a difference. She could change things for the better – even defeat monsters like some great hero. She could make good things – happy endings – happen for so many people.
But here? In this prison? She was less than useless. There was nothing she could give. Nothing she could do. Nothing she could say that could remove her wife from this vile sentence of 10 years. Nothing could bring her Deanna home. Nothing except to wait, a fact that, even in the moment, Selena could not accept.
The fact that, regardless of being a good wrestler, being the damn “face”… it wasn’t some super power. She couldn’t just fly in and save her wife and then fly her back to Manhattan where she’ll be safe. She couldn’t change the judge's mind. She couldn't simply hire the best lawyer or the best legal team or the best defence team or whatever was needed to perform such a miracle. And, though every part of her wanted to, she couldn't silence that damned, lying, bastard that had accused her wife – couldn't silence him with a swift kick to the head.
She, Selena Frost, could do nothing. And she was getting fucking sick of it!
*********************************
February 5th, 2020
Rogers Arena
Vancouver, British Columbia
“I don't care!” Selena growled into the screen. “I'm done waiting! I want her out of that prison!”
Rationally, speaking, the former world champion knew that she must have looked ridiculous shouting at a laptop in a changeroom. She also knew that what she was demanding couldn't reasonably be done by the person on the screen that she was shouting too. But, again, she did not find herself caring. Angrily, she drove the palm of her hand against her forehead, rubbing it angrily.
“I- Deanna and I can't keep living like this, Jean.” her voice was reduced to a whisper, but she fought back against the tremors she felt that threatened to become a crying-fit. “Every time we're together, we inevitably have a breakdown.”
On the screen in front of her, the Skype video chat between her and her oldest friend, Jean Black sighed as he ran a thin hand through his hair. “Selena-” he tried, his voice as comforting as the Alaskan detective could be.
“She's innocent.” Selena declared – more just to stop whatever Jean was going to say than to actually convince him. “You know she is.”
“I know she is.” Jean repeated strongly. “But that isn't enough. We've...”
His voice was tired, more emotionally than physically. How many times had he had this conversation in the last few months with his old friend? How many times had he hated to be the voice of reason when Selena's need for her wife – missing the love of her life – became too much? True, the platinum-blonde had some friends... had some people that she could turn to – but what could they do? None of them were lawyers or investigators or whatever. It was just him and Zelda because...
“You heard the judge.” Jean tried slowly. “He won't entertain any notions of an appeal unless new evidence is brought to light-”
“Than can't we go over his head?!” Selena asked, his hands gripping into fists, fingernails digging into the skin of her palms. “Get another judge or something?”
An aggravated sigh left Jean's lips. “Selena, we've been over this time and time again.”
“There just has to be-”
“THERE ISN'T!”
Selena had faced down monsters like Xander and Giovanni without flinching. Had stood across from some of the most dangerous wrestlers in the world – but the shout from Jean caused her to shift back from where she sat on the carpeted floor. She hadn't expected that from the detective.
“You've exhausted every detective and lawyer within a hundred miles of Frankfurt. No one will take your case because no one can find any solid evidence to grant an appeal! How much have you spent on them?” he dared to ask, causing the Snow Queen to look away, her eyes on the carpet. Perhaps it was the scrutinizing glare and judgmental tone from Jean, making the adult woman feel like a child and preventing her from admitting to the thousands she had spent on multiple detectives and lawyers in Frankfurt – the thousands she had thrown away on men and women that just didn't care enough to dig deeper.
What else could I do? her mind rebelled. Nothing? I'm already useless enough as it is!
A bout of silence hung in between the old friends, Selena still refusing to look at the screen,. Her eyes took in the simple-colored walls of the change room in the arena. She was still dressed in her wrestling attire, having just finished her match for the house show in B.C. It had served as a solid distraction for a few hours, being used to hype the Trios Tournament, the different teams – hell, she had even stuck around in the back to watch all the hype surrounding Aaron Blackbourne challenging James Evans for the World title. Still, time continued to go on – and she soon found her mind returning back to where it always went.
To her wife...
To Deanna...
To that god-awful prison...
To this feeling of being utterly powerless...
Slowly, Selena turned her head back to the screen – back to Jean. “I'm sick of feeling powerless, Jean. You have no idea what this feels like.”
“I can-”
“No, you can't!” Selena countered. “Answer me this simple question, detective, and if I'm wrong, then I'll apologize and hang up this call and you'll never be bothered by me-”
“It's not a bother.” Jean tried. “I just can't change what is-”
“Just answer the question for me, Jean.” Selena steeled herself, her shoulders rolling back. “What if it was Zelda?”
She saw the question be processed in Jean's mind. First, his eyes widened a little in shock. Then the muscles in his jaw tightened, then it was followed by a tight, harsh smile across his face.
“Tell me you wouldn't be doing what I'm doing if it was her.” Selena dared, referring to Jean's fiancee and family friend/distant relative of the Frost family.
“Alright.” he finally replied. “You've got me there.”
“And she would do the same if it was you.” Selena whispered.
“Except there is a difference.”
The bold statement from Jean, once again, caught Selena off-guard.
“There is a difference between you and me.” Jean replied.
“What?” Selena asked. “And please tell me this isn't some macho-cheese comeback or something.”
“No...”
A long sigh came from the detective before he spoke. “Ten years ago, I was given a case to solve – a jewel heist slash murder.”
“Funny how you put the order of that – I'd think murder would be first of the two.”
“Order of occurrence.” Jean dismissed Selena with a wave of his hand. “Anyway, I knew who did it. I had tracked him down – the bastard had even dared me to try and catch up, goading me every step of the way.”
An eyebrow quirked up from the young Frost. “He admitted that he did it?”
“He used language that could be misconstrued in court, but we both knew.”
“So, you caught him.”
“Not right away. He had alibis for his alibis. Had everything pointed to everywhere other than him. Nothing I found could stick to him for long. He countered me at every turn.”
“Probably why he was so smug.” Selena stated, earning a nod from the detective on the screen.
“For months and months, we kept this up. He would drop a hint or point me towards something or I'd get a 'break' and he'd just sidestep over and over again. Nothing I could find could halt him. And the jewellers? What did they care? They had insurance on the gems, so they were covered. But the man that was killed? A common security officer. No insurance. Leaving paycheck to paycheck for him and his son.”
Selena's eyes widened a little. Why had Jean never told her this story? Was it a failure of his? Was there something more? Despite herself, she leaned a little forward, wrapping her arms around her knees, which were brought up to her chest.
“Without a conviction, no one was willing to help the boy beyond leaving him stranded in Pilgrim Springs near Anchorage.”
Selena remembered that place – the orphanage her Elsianna had spent the first five years of her life before Selena had rediscovered her. She felt the pull in her heart at such a memory.
“So... I made a choice.”
Because THAT always means a good thing... Selena's mind worried.
“I waited until he came to me to goad again. And as I walked, with him following me, I lead him down into an alley, far from prying eyes.”
Jean was quiet for a moment, allowing this part of the story to sink in for Selena.
“Once there, I took out a gun with a silencer, and shot him through the calf.”
Selena's mouth hung open. She didn't have issue believing that Jean knew how to use a gun, but to use one without provocation?
“I won't lie to you, Selena.” Jean continued, his tone a bit darker. “There was a certain amount of satisfaction seeing that bastard squirm on the ground as he clutched his leg.”
“Wha...what did you do then?” She hated herself for asking.
“Simple.” Jean shrugged. “I pulled him so he was sitting against the wall of the alley, told him that I was done with our little game and that I was going to jump right to the finish line. One way... or another.” using his thumb and forefinger, Jean held his 'gun' in front of the camera so Selena could see it. “And as I pressed the gun into his temple, I gave him a choice – live the rest of his life in prison, or don't live a life at all.”
“You-” Selena's jaw trembled as she heard this. “How could you?” she was finally able to ask.
“You would defend such a man?”
“No!” She quickly replied. “But what you did? What if you were wrong it wasn't him? Maybe he was just some jackass looking for his fifteen seconds of fame! Maybe you had missed something-”
“It was him.” Jean laughed at the young girl's attempts.
“Even so! The ends don't justify the means!”
“And that, dearie, is exactly the difference between you and me.”
Jean's statement hung in the air, the accusation effectively silencing Selena.
“You see, child.” his tone was condescending. “The difference between you and me is that, if Zelda was where Deanna is right now? And all the attempts you pulled had failed? Then, unlike you, I would look at everything else. I would go through every other connection and person that I knew. Crooked, underhanded, I wouldn't give a DAMN!” he stopped for a moment, his next words carrying a heavy weight. “I'd forfeit everything...”
Selena felt her jaw tremble. “Even...”
“Even my own beliefs and morals. Because nothing would be more important than getting her back!”
She felt her whole body clench – every muscle tighten – as she processed Jean's words. Slowly, she was able to find her voice again.
“Wha...what happened to your guy?” she asked, earning a smug smile from Jean.
“He gave me the one piece of evidence that could lock him away. He told me where the jewels were. One phone call and finding his fingerprints all over them and he was put away.”
“But what about the murder?”
“Video surveillance caught the masked burglar shoot and kill the security guard. One linked to the other.” Jean concluded his story.
Neither person – detective or Snow Queen – spoke for several minutes, both letting the story hang heavily between them. For Selena, she could not 100% agree with Jean. Yes, he had done the right thing... but the means...
She shook her head. No, it was a slippery slope at best when it came to that. People doing bad things for the right reasons or for goals they deemed 'justifiable'. Hell, her two biggest haters – Bree Lancaster and Sienna Swann – were shining examples of that. In fact, she could easily run a list, maybe in alphabetical order, from Ace Marshall all the way to Xander Valentine of people that followed such views of “the ends justifying the means”.
But this wasn't some wrestling match or some title with a money bonus if you won it. This wasn't some prize fight or tournament. This was her wife that was being discussed. The mother of her children. A woman wrongfully accused of- Selena bit down on on her bottom lip, her eyes shut for a moment to drive the thought out. She was set to lose ten years of her life if Selena continued on the path she was going.
”How many days, weeks, months have I taken from us by being here?”
Her wife's words echoed in her mind, a message that had haunted Selena both awake and in her dreams for days. And the feeling or powerlessness? How much longer would she have to feel this way? Even if they waited ten years – she knew she would never be free of it if they just waited. There would always be that guilt – that self-hatred of taking away ten years of their lives together.
“I...” she took a shaky breath. She was doing all she could to help right a wrong done to her sister, Regan.
Regan.
For a moment, and certainly not the first time in her life, Selena wished she was more like her best friend. Regan wouldn't have hesitated if it was her husband, David. Nothing would be 'off-limits' and nothing would be 'impossible'. The Hellcat would have laughed and said it was 'all for love, dammit!'. For a moment, Selena almost laughed at the image in her head – that of Regan storming the Frankfurt prison, picking her husband up bridal-style, and carrying him out of the prison while “Love Lifts Us Up Where We Belong” played in the background.
It was a funny image, but it did not diminish the truth. Like Jean, Regan followed her own rules and her own heart – even if she was trying to do right by SCW now. The woman had sold her own Trios contract for her daughter, whom Selena thought was just amazing. There was no question that Regan would do anything for her family – consequences be damned.
So why can't you?
“Have you been holding back because of me?” she asked quietly, unsure if Jean heard her. Slowly, she lifted her head to gaze at her old friend. “Have you been holding back certain leads and places because you thought I wouldn't approve?”
Taking a deep breath, Jean held up one finger. “One lead.” he stated, though the bitterness and sadness in his voice made it clear that this was a path that Selena would not like to tread. “Recently...”
Selena's eyes widened. “What is it?” she asked. “I don't-” she stopped herself but only for a second. “I don't care what it is. Tell me!”
“Trust me. You'll care.” Jean sighed. “It's one of the best lawyers I know of. And I think...I think she knows about your case.”
“Wha- How?” Selena asked. “It's been kept quiet and-”
“I don't know how.” Jean answered. “But, as of a month ago, she passed the bar... specifically for Germany, which she's never been to.”
The platinum-blonde tilted her head, her braid shifting slightly from her movements. “That doesn't make sense.” she concluded. “Why would someone randomly complete a bar test for a country they've never visited – is she moving there?”
“No.” Jean answered.
“Well, why?”
“It'll make sense when I tell you where she is now.” the age of the detective was on clear display as he spoke. Selena could see the wrinkles on his face and the bags under his eyes.
“Just tell me.” Selena ordered. “I said I don't care what this lead is – if she can get Deanna-”
“She's here, Selena.” Jean confessed.
“Here?”
“Here. In Nome.”
It took only a second for Selena's brain to put all the pieces together. A lawyer in Nome – specifically displaying something like this... wanting to get Selena's attention...
“No.” she said briskly. “No way! No fucking way!”
“Selena-” Jean tried as he watched Selena push herself to her feet, wobbling only a little from her legs falling asleep, as she marched around the change room.
“You're out of your mind!” Selena spat. “There's no way she will help me! She'll probably ask for everything! The fortune, the children! She'll want something that I can't possibly give her!”
“What if she doesn't? I mean, why go through all this trouble just to shun you?”
“Because she HATES me!” Selena spat as she sat back down in front of the computer. “You know she does! She hates that my life turned out okay. That I actually got out of Nome while she's stuck there! That I have children and she can't! That I'm... I'm...”
“The Snow Queen?” Jean finished, earning a nod from Selena.
“She won't help me.” Selena concluded. “Even if I go to Nome crawling on my hands and knees. Even if I beg and promise her all the money I have – she won't help me. She just wants to see me beg. She'll send me out laughing her head off.”
She sat there in silence, her teeth biting at the fingernail of her thumb. She could picture it – hell, she had lived through it in the past during her way to keep Elsianna and David in her family. If it was a matter of pride, then screw that, Selena would go there right now. If it was a matter of money, then again, she'd go there with as much as she could amass. No, it was just pointless. What ever that bitter woman was doing to get Selena's attention, it sure as hell wasn't going to get her any closer to get Deanna out of prison.
“But what if she doesn't?”
The question, posed by Jean, caused Selena to turn her head back to the screen, her eyes moist with forming tears.
“What if you got to lose but your pride?” he asked.
She opened her mouth to retort but no words came out. Fortunately, she was spared from making a bigger fool of herself by the sound of the change room door turning, causing Selena to turn back to Jean, utter a quick “I'll think about it.” before terminating the call, closing the laptop and sitting back against the couch behind her as Regan Street strolled into the room, Mikalea and Deliliah following quietly behind it.
“Oh yeah.” Regan smiled as she stretched her arms and back. “Nothing like a solid back and forth fight to loosen up the joints!”
“G...good match?” Selena asked quietly. “No problems?”
“Nah. Basic stuff and-” Regan stopped as she opened her eyes from her stretch to see Selena sitting there, her face smiling, but her eyes. “What happened?”
“Wha-” Selena tried but stopped as the Hellcat, seeming in investigator-mode, plopped down right beside her, grabbing the pale women's chin with her hand.
“You've been crying.”
“No, I haven't!” Selena denied.
“Well, then you've been close! Cause there's tears there!”
“Maybe you're just grabbing my chin too hard!” Selena countered.
The deadpan expression Regan's face made her next remark all the more obvious. “Hunny, I bashed your head in with a monitor and didn't see one teardrop. You think I'm gonna buy that BS?”
Biting her lower lip, Selena's eyes quickly glanced behind her to where Mikalea and Delilah stood, concerned expressions on their face. Turning her head as well, Regan regarded the two.
“Why don't you take Delilah to catering, sis. I think someone needs some one-on-one time.”
“Yeah...okay.” Mikalea nodded in understand before gently escorting the younger Delilah out of the room, closing it behind her.
Now that they were alone, Regan turned her head towards Selena, her face a grim expression of seriousness. “Okay. Go.” she stated.
“Okay...” Carefully, the platinum-blonde pushed herself to her feet and began pacing the room, her hands clasping and unclasping one another nervously. She had no idea how she could explain this to Regan – could she be upfront? That would be the best...but... despite this being so, her mouth was moving before her brain realized what she had said.
“Let me ask you something hypothetically...”
Regan raised an eyebrow. “Okay.” she answered slowly.
“Last person you would ever ask for a favour? I mean, not even if-”
“Syren.”
Selena stopped, turning to look at Regan with surprise. “That was fast.” she answered. “You didn't even have to think about that, did you?”
“Do I need to explain why?”
“No! No!” Selena quickly assured her. “No reason to go digging under that rock – gods know we're going to have to stomach teaming with one of them...” she muttered the last part before suddenly clapping her hands to refocus herself.
“Okay.” she turned back to Regan. “Anyway, let's say that David's in trouble.”
“Your David or my David?”
“Your David.”
“Got it.”
“Now, David's in trouble.
“What kind of trouble?”
“I am NOT playing twenty questions with you.” Selena interjected. “David's in trouble and the only person who MIGHT be able to help him is Syren. But she doesn't want to talk to him. She wants YOU to go to her and ask her. And I mean 'ask her'. There might be gravelling, begging, saying things you never would say – I can't express enough the depths you'd have to go to get her help.”
Before her, Selena saw Regan's eyes narrow at the Snow Queen, her arms crossed across her chest and the black catsuit she wore. “Nobody else can help?”
Selena merely shook her head.
“And it's big trouble?”
A nod from the platinum-blonde.
“Then yeah. I would go to Syren and do whatever she wanted.”
A sigh came from Selena. “See. I knew you would say that. I just don't get how. How can you leave with that?” she held a hand up to stop Regan from interjecting, as the Hellcat seemed annoyed with Selena's choice of words. “I'm not saying you're wrong, Regan. I'm not. I didn't think you were wrong with the whole Trios thing... but I mean... You've come so far. With your morals and your career – you've turned it all around... What if.... what if Syren made you do something far worse than just handing over a contract? What if she made you sell out all your morals? You'd still do it?”
It took a glance to the floor for a split second before Regan nodded her head. “Yeah...basically.”
A moment of silence hung in the air as the two women looked at each other, allowing Regan to explain. “Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't piss on her if she was on fire, but if it's David's well being that is at stake? Much as I would hate myself for awhile, there's nothing I wouldn't do for him.”
For a moment, merely a moment, Selena spotted something in Regan's eyes. Something that wasn't entirely associated the Hellcat. A gleam? A twinkle? A dreamy look?
The Snow Queen had seen it before – every time Deanna looked at her. True love. her mind whispered, reminding the young Frost of how that felt when she, herself, looked into her beloved's eyes.
“This about Deanna?” Regan's thoughts interrupted her, the Hellcat gaze back in place.
Selena nodded. “I could...there might be a way to help her... but I'm not sure if she'll help...”
Her sister shrugged. “Besides your pride, what have you got to lose?”
“I...”
Selena thought about it – was it really so basic? Was it really something as simple as that?
“If she says, 'no', then you're no worse off than you are now. If she agrees but the price is something you know Deanna wouldn't want you to pay? Then you can say 'no', spit in her face and walk away.”
“Spit in her face?” Selena asked.
“Well, I was going to say 'key her car' but that seemed out of place for you.”
“You would key Syren's car?” Selena asked incredulously.
“Well, I might run her over with it, first.” Regan teased, sticking her tongue out playfully.
Rolling her eyes, Selena flopped on the couch, not having to wait long for the young Hellcat to join her. “Bottom line?” Regan started. “Hear her out. Even if it hurts, even if your pride hurts afterwards.”
Slowly, Selena nodded her head – though she wasn't certain she could follow her teammate's advice. “Not sure if I am ready to face her.”
She suddenly felt a slap on her knee by the older blonde. “Then I'll tell you what!” she seemed suddenly inspired as she turned to Selena. “Let's take a day or two to clear your head!”
“What?” the young Frost asked.
“Come with me home for the rest of the weekend! We can spend a day or two working through this and whatever else bothers us.”
The platinum-blonde bit her lower lip. It sounded tempting, and with the house shows being so close, inter-lapping over the weekend, it didn't leave much time for her to run to Germany...
“I don't-” she started.
“Oh come on.” urged the Hellcat. “I think it would do you some good. Also, it's the only free time we'll have before Trios.”
“It is?!” Selena's eyes widened in surprise before she reached into her pocket to check her phone. Sure enough, the few days off they had till Breakdown was all that was left, thanks to the house shows...
Though those might need to be...
“Selena...” came Regan's voice. “I think we both need this. I...” she seemed unsure of her words at first, but, typical of the Hellcat, she plunged in headfirst. “I am beyond grateful for what you did – are doing – for me, picking me and all. But... all that stuff you said? On Breakdown? 'Right the Wrongs'? It's kinda become my responsibility, too.”
“It's not-”
“Not like that.” Regan interrupted. “You did this for me – now I need to make sure you don't regret it.” she stared down her sister, green eyes against sapphire. So different than Deanna's and yet, so similar with that fire in them.... “I'm going to get you a Trios contract, too. That's my responsibility.”
Reaching out, Selena was surprised to suddenly feel Regan's hands holding her own. Casting a glance down at the four hands linked together, she gazed back up at Regan before releasing a breath. “Alright.” she whispered. “You're right. We can't afford to slow down now.”
“Awesome!” Regan half-cheered, clapping her hands excitedly before she begun helping Selena pack for the travel.
For the Snow Queen, part of her was relieved – excited to be focusing on wrestling with her sister – but another part of her couldn't shake the dread of what Regan's advice had prompted her to do. Regan and Jean seemed to be pointing to the same course for her...
And Selena wasn't so sure she would be able to travel it...
___________________________________
The Royal Letter
Christy Matthews,
As you can imagine, and probably with help from Ravyn if you didn't, you predicted this ever since your name was drawn to this team – this Royal Letter is simply for you. As I said, you probably expected it, so I won't insult you by thinking this would be any sort of surprise for you.
But just as I am not going to insult you with such things, neither am I going to pander you with platitudes or warm greetings. We both know they would be insincere, given our history.
So, rather than do all of that: let's cut the catchphrases, conspiracy theories, and twisting of narratives and get down to it. You're set to team-up with Regan and I for the Trios Tournament. One half of the tag-team champions.... teaming with one of the teams that are striving to take away her championship...
Well, from a talent perspective? Regan and I may have hit the damn lottery. I mean, the roster is massive, obviously, and, if our Breakdown match was any indication, we could have done a hell of a lot worse in terms of ability in drawing you. You're dangerous, you're driven and you'll do anything to win. So, from a 'by the numbers' standpoint, we were rather fortunate.
But from a personality/morality standpoint? Let's just say you're not even on my top twenty of people I'd prefer to work with. I don't really care if you'll scoff at that, but, quite frankly – and personally – I would have much rather have drawn someone like Owen Cruze or Alistaire Allocco, Asher Hayes or Aaron Blackbourn – it's a rather long list, but you? You would be at the bottom with Syren, Sienna, Bree – hell, even Giovanni Aries placed higher than you – not by much but I would rather have picked him.
Know why, Christy? Because as good as you are in the ring? As dangerous as you are in the squared circle? You've become just the same as the Siennas, Brees, the Aces and, recently, the Braddocks. People who would rather take the path of least resistance. People that think “SCW owes me”. People that would rather take shortcuts and handouts and gods know what else – anything but work hard and prove themselves in the ring.
Tell me I'm wrong, Christy. Tell me that isn't exactly what happened when you had Ravyn and Richter down there, ready to jump me when the chance presented itself, last week during our match. Tell me that isn't what happened when Katya had Alexander Crowe as the guest referee when you tried to take the United States title from me.
That's why, Christy. That's why I'm not thrilled with you being on this team. Because, despite the amazing talent the three of us bring to this tournament, all I can see – all I can picture – is the same BS that happened the last time I was in this tournament. The accomplishment of winning the whole thing – first time I ever did – being tainted by deals, run-ins and interference, all of Infamous' same old tricks – your same old tricks!
And I don't want that for this team! I know Regan doesn't want that for this team! She and I? We've wanted to do this whole 'tag-team thing' with earning every opportunity we get. And whether you want to complain and whine about Frozen Hell being closer than ever for the tag-team titles, 'earning it' is exactly what we have done to be in this tournament and what we will continue to do every step of the way. And, in my case, for the first time, I have a chance to not only win this tournament on my own merit, and as a leader, but also to right the biggest wrong we've had so far this year.
So... rather than pander to you, Christy, I'm going to do something I, honestly, never thought I would have to do. I'm going to relate to you. I tried to do that last Breakdown in the middle of the ring. Remember, Christy? I tried to relate to you as a fellow wrestler.
And you scoffed at me.
Well... let's say that I don't know what I am talking about. Let's say that you're NOT simply the puppet of Ravyn. Let's say that you're still the woman that won Trios and then set a new concept by being one of the first people to cash it in for the main-event spot at Rise to Greatness. Let's say you're the same person that was the second woman to ever win the World championship and simply someone that got suckered by the promises of Infamous.
You're not under their control, Christy? You are, in fact, your own woman that can do whatever you want on your own?
Well... if that was the case – why the hell did you side with them in the first place? How did that come about? Because I seem to recall you telling the world how you did it so you could get a shot at the United States title and the tag-team titles. I seem to remember Katya rewarding you for that when you backstabbed all of SCW, and Ravyn promising you a chance at the tag-titles for months. But you're not a sellout, right? You're not a puppet, huh?
That's the point I was trying to make last night, Christy. I don't believe me – no one in SCW believes you. Because your actions speak far louder than words. And that's why, instead of scoffing at my words, Christy, you need to be really thinking about them.
Because just as I want to prove myself as capable of winning this tournament through ability, rather than just being a punching bag and taking a beating like in 2018, you need to show SCW – show the world – that I'm wrong. Put aside the tag-team championship for a second – I'm talking doing this as a wrestler. Doing this, not for Infamous, but for you. You NEED to show the world just what you've been bragging about. That you haven't lost a step. That you're still your own woman and your own wrestler. Because people aren't saying what you said last night: That if we lose, it will be “Regan and Selena's fault”. Regan and I? There's not a single person that can question what we can do on our own. Hell, I beat you just last week, didn't I? It's you, Christy, that's needed Ravyn all this time to be able to win and it's you that, despite your talent, can't seem to handle the fight on her own.
But, like I said, you have the ability to silence that doubt. Silence those notions and, not only that, you'll actually have the ability to do the right thing. I know that doesn't matter much to you these days, but let's face it, even with Infamous, even with you, you know when something is wrong. Yes, you've made deals backstage and Ravyn can manipulate with the best of them, but deep down, at least for you, I know that there is a line that we, as wrestlers, shouldn't cross. And, let's face it, Christy, Sienna Swann crossed that line. Blackmailing Regan by using Regan's daughter, just to take her Trios from her?
Tell me there's nothing wrong with that, Christy. Tell me that that doesn't piss you off on some level. That an accomplishment like winning the Trios Tournament - something you and I both know something about – that accomplishment being done not by hard work or ability, but by having someone else do all the work and then stealing it from them. Tell me that that doesn't touch a nerve for you as a wrestler. Tell me that doesn't just spit in the face of how hard you worked to win it! Tell me... I dare you!
I'm not afraid to admit that it did bother me. Scratch that. It infuriated me, Christy! Not only as a friend but also as a wrestler. Because Regan didn't deserve that. She deserved the chance to cash in her Trios for whatever she wanted. She deserved the chance to use that contract she earned, just like I did and just like you did. And just like the winners of this year should be allowed to do.
I mean, what if it was your daughter, Christy? What if someone used your daughter after you won Trios years ago to make you hand over your contract? That isn't me making a threat, this is me telling you to actually think for yourself in this case. I'm not asking you as a wrestler, I'm not asking you so you can run to Ravyn and get her take on this. I'm asking you on the most fundamental level that you and I share.
From one mother to another.
What Regan did? It was the same thing that you and I would have done. How many times have you said to me of your desire to have your daughter be proud of you? That nothing was more important to you than her? Of being a role-model that she can look up to? Practically every time we've faced, you've mentioned that in some way.
You say you'd 'do it for your daughter', well, this is your chance!
This is your chance to accomplish something the right way – accomplish something that you don't have to sugar-coat or lie to your daughter about. You can show your contract to her proudly. You can tell her how you fought alongside two other women and, like them, fought to do the right thing – correcting an injustice that was brought here by Sienna. You can see the glow in your child's eyes as she stares at you, her mother, proudly. You can not only put your own career back on track, as I said on Breakdown, but you can show your daughter what it means to do 'the right thing' and to actually be a hero – if only for one single night.
Or... you can continue being Ravyn's little puppet.
Really, Christy, it's your choice. Either way, it's not going to stop Regan and I from coming after your tag-team titles after this is all over and it sure as hell isn't going to stop us from fighting to win this whole damn tournament with or without you. But to be honest? After seeing what this tournament can do for Regan, for me, and even for you... just this one time, I rather have you working with us than against us.
But, as I said... the choice is really up to you. Choose wisely.
Sincerely.
Selena Michelle Frost
![[Image: hffOaUZ.png]](https://i.imgur.com/hffOaUZ.png)
SCW Supreme Champion
6x SCW World Champion
4x SCW World Tag-Team Champion
2x SCW United States Champion
3x SCW Adrenaline Champion
SCW Television Champion
Longest Reigning SCW World Champion (234 days)
Winner of Shot of Adrenaline Tournament (2016)
Winner of Best of the Best Tournament (2016)
Winner of Trios Tournament (2018)
Winner of U.S. Championship Tournament (2020)
Winner of World Championship Tournament (2023)
Winner of Tactical Warfare (2014, 2019)
Winner of Elimination Chamber (2015, 2024)
Winner of Roofed Cage Match (2019)
Winner of Last Person Standing Match (2019)
The Unbelievable Main Event (2021-2025)
Winner of Double Jeopardy Match (2022)
Winner of EOTY Invitational (2023)
Winner of EOTY Invitational (2023)
Winner of Ironman Match (2024)
Wrestler of the Year (2016, 2021, 2022, 2024)
Tag-Team of the Year (2020 - w/ Regan Street)
Match of the Year (2018, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024)
Feud of the Year (2014, 2019)
Shocking Moment of the Year (2024)
![[Image: 34zetxl.png]](https://i.ibb.co/SnpvD5T/34zetxl.png)