Anchorage, AlaskaNalani: I just wish you’d think about what I said.
Tempest: Momma, I have thought about it. It just doesn’t do much good. Not now. Not with me.
Nalani Mahoe, the mother of Tempest, frowned with the rightful concern any parent might feel when their child might say much of anything that did not shed themselves in the same positive light that their parents themselves saw them cast in. When Gabriel and Odette had the pleasure of meeting Nalani in person, as they were wont to do with the immediate family of any one of their prospective students, Gabriel admitted a touch of surprise. Here Tempest was standing at a towering 6’3” and her mother couldn’t be pushing an even five feet herself as far as her own physical stature. But despite that demure height, the Stevens could see where Tempest got much of her personality. All of the steel, none of the anger. She was a force of nature and they could easily understand how she managed to raise Tempest as well as her brothers with little to no trouble whatsoever.
Tempest: Oh, don’t look at me like that.
Nalani: Like what?
Tempest: Like I just kicked a puppy.
Nalani: I just don’t understand why you can’t hang out with some of the other ladies that you work with; make some friends?
Tempest could not help but smile as she turned her head away from the screen of her phone where she had been chatting with her mom over a video chat for the past hour now. Nalani was always thrilled when her children would call. Most kids seemed to work overtime in finding ways to avoid interacting with their “old” parents, but her kids? It seems they worked extra hard to do the exact opposite. But there was also the concern that Nalani knew the majority of her only daughter’s socialization was, in fact, with her. At least, when away from that wrestling gym she attended. Anything else and she was prone to keep to herself.
She knew her daughter. Mothers always did.
A light scoff, a subdued chuckle, and Tempest turned back to the screen and shook her head, that smile never leaving her face. If anyone from the GO Gym or SCW were to see this, they’d probably think her face would break from such an effort as it was so rarely seen with the walls she had erected around herself in those respective circles.
Tempest: You sound just like you did when you were sending me off to school when I was little.
Nalani: Yes, and I seem to recall you had a habit of getting into fights back then too.
Tempest: Yes, well… I was never the type of girl who collected Barbies or wore frilly pink dresses with bows like the other little girls. They liked to tease me about that so I’d just smack them out of their desk chairs.
Nalani: I seem to recall you tying a little girl to the back of her chair once with her own pigtails.
To which Tempest just rolled her eyes. Her mom had a sharp mind and an even sharper memory. Leave it to her to remember the most intricate of details of the times she got into trouble at school. As many times as she did, you’d think she’d forget something, but not her mom. From her side of the call back in Honolulu, Nalani just wore a smile on her face; part pride, part mischief. She didn’t approve of her ‘little girl fighting but she did approve of her standing up for herself - then and now. Not that she would ever admit to such a thing.
Tempest: It’s just not so simple where I am now. This isn’t school. It’s wrestling, and it’s every woman for herself when you get right down to it. Every girl wants the win, the push, the championships. Even if it means stabbing you in the back to get it. Trust me, I learned that fast.
Nalani: Is this about that girl… Krystal?
Tempest sighed, but it was one more based in disgust than it was feeling down.
Tempest: It’s just hard to justify making friends when the people you trained with are out to cost you, just to get a match they wanted. Least I have the satisfaction of knowing Gabriel and a few of the others at the Gym weren’t happy with her over it.
Tempest’s eyes then focused solely on the screen and her mother could see the renewed steel reserve behind those lovely amber orbs.
Tempest: But if she pushes me one more time…
Before she could finish her statement or threat or whatever you might want to call it, there was a resounding knock on the door of her hotel room. Tempest cast a quick sidelong glance toward the door.
Tempest: Oh what fresh hell is this….?
Nalani: Go answer it, and I’ll talk to you later. Maybe it’s a man!
She added with an impish grin, teasing her daughter. Tempest just gave her ‘that look’ before she ended the call with a smile and profession of love. She then set her phone down on the bed in her hotel room and crossed the floor until she grasped the handle and with a deft twist of the wrist, opened it to find herself standing face to face (almost literally) with her tag team partner and co-champion, Austin James Mercer.
Tempest: Well I suppose my mom was right. You are a man.
Austin frowned a bit stiffly in confusion, not knowing if she had just taken a shot at his expense or not. But before he could ask to clarify, Tempest shook her head to ward off the aforementioned.
Tempest: Never mind. What do you need?
Austin James Mercer: How about you, leaving your room for a change? We’re back on tour and all you do is hole yourself up in your room in every city they send you.
To which Tempest frowned.
Tempest: I don’t recall asking for your advice, Mercer. I think I can decide for myself how to pass the time.
Austin James Mercer: You mean besides using the mini bar, ordering room service and camping out in front of the TV?
Tempest: You stash a camera away in my room, you sick…?
Austin James Mercer: No, just slowly coming to get to know you, whether you like it or not. Now come on. My family’s back in New York. Rest of Wolfslair is doing their own thing and I’m bored!
Tempest: And this affects me how?
Austin James Mercer: Oh stop being so damn stubborn and come unwind! I already booked something to do!
Tempest: Something … like what?
The answer came after an hour’s drive in Austin’s rental, and the Tag Team Champions of SCW were standing on the deck of the mv Ptarmigan, an eighty foot vessel built on-site on Portage Lake to U.S. Coast Guard specifications. There were other tourists there, but Austin and Tempest were among the only SCW stars present. Even amongst non-SCW fans, their imposing and respective physical stature drew some interested as well as intimidated looks their way. Unlike these other tourists, the champions had the foresight to dress appropriately, wearing jackets to stave off the frigid air of Alaska, even in these September months. It was almost amusing for both Tempest as well as Austin to stand by and listen to some of these idiots grumble and complain about the cold, especially given there was a light drizzle of rain that was cascading down from the gray skies above. There were even a few who just assumed that September would be warm and hence, took the liberty of wearing shorts and light shirts - in 55 degree weather?
Who would have thought Alaska of all places would be cold?
Of course they could have simply gone below deck into the heated cabin, but then they would not have such a view as what laid before their eyes, against the waters and skyline...
The Portage Glacier, which was the main attraction of this tour along the Kenai Peninsula. It was a grand site, over six miles in length.
And the fun part? Tempest and Austin got to listen to more grumbling since they had arrived at the cruise early and at Austin’s insistence, they took their spots right at the top level’s rail. Of course, with their respective heights, they could have been standing in the middle and not miss anything - but it’s the principle of the thing. So many of the tourists standing behind them and in the middle of the one hundred allowed on board grumbled audibly about this and being unable to see. One or two half wits even made the foolish and brazen attempt to press ahead and try to nudge themselves in front of the tag team champions and take the front spot for themselves, but that foolish notion was quickly and thoroughly cut short. It was an event that lasted for much of the day, and finally Austin paused in taking pictures for his wife and child back home to turn and watch as Tempest’s own eyes watched her surroundings with a surprising sense of appreciation.
Austin James Mercer: So?
Tempest: So ... what?
Austin James Mercer: Oh don’t give me that! Why don’t you just come out and admit it?
Tempest’s brow creased into a frown and she finally took her gaze away from the water, watching as their cruise left waves in its wake. She had been watching as the ship went through the surface of the water, which had been partially frozen over being this close to the glacier itself. Too thin of a layer to be safe for something like ice skating, but enough to create a sheet of ice to be easily broken up as they went about the tour route. She turned her head and stared at Austin, who was casting a sidelong glance in her direction.
Tempest: What the hell are you talking about?? Admit what!?
He couldn’t help but roll his eyes at the elite level of stubbornness that this woman was possessing. She wasn’t slow or dumb by any stretch of the imagination. She knew what he was referring to, but he could play along.
Austin James Mercer: That this was a good idea? That you’re having a good time?
Tempest scoffed quite audibly and shook her head as she turned back away from him, but he watched from the corner of his eye as everyone on the cruise heard the tell-tale sound of a loud crack, and as they looked to the glacier, they watched as one as a chunk of ice broke away and crashed into the waters below.
Tempest: I don’t hate it.
Austin couldn’t help but smirk in a sense of self satisfaction. He did so love being right.
The camera opened with a close up shot of one-half of the World Mixed Tag Team championships belts resting on the seat of a wooden stool.
“I would say that it was about damn time that Mercer and I had the chance to defend our titles again, given we haven’t really had that chance since July.But the time between defenses has me thinking that these championships are starting to be seen more of a novelty act as opposed to actually being a prestigious title of some sort. I thought this when Alicia Lukas set us up against the Barnharts to win the gold in the first place. I had intended, or at least hoped, to change the direction that people see these belts from the outside looking in, but when people don’t want to challenge you and the powers that be make little to no effort to find you new experiences, it just leaves you wondering - what the point even is?”
“During the time when we should have been defending the championships and making them actually mean something, instead Mercer gets trapped in meaningless card filler matches and I get used as a roadblock for Bella Madison’s little personal quest. Don’t get me wrong. I know and understand that it’s hard to find quality challengers when the option is to face the most physically imposing tag team ever put together. The vast majority of the rosters are either shitting themselves at the idea of having to face us, or the mere idea of having to trust one another long enough to team together to even make that attempt. You saw what happened the last time Austin and I were scheduled to defend. We haven’t had that opportunity since Summer XXXTreme IX when we took little Seleana and Miles Kasey to school and made them wish that they were stuck in one of those meaningless card filler matches rather than stepping up to the plate. Not that they actually wanted to win the titles, mind you. They whined and complained loud enough that they wanted other opportunities, that they deserved better.”
She scrunched up her face slightly and shook her head.
“That proved then and there what I always knew; that it’s always what I knew; that this business is all about you. Nobody wants to come together as a cohesive unit and make a division mean something any more. They don’t or won’t trust another to have their back and be there for them. They’re here for one reason and one reason alone…”
The camera panned around to a close up of Tempest as she looked down at the title belt that had been in her possession since June. She silently pointed at herself and mouthed “Me, me, me!” without actually saying a word.
“So imagine my surprise when for the first time since - ever, that Austin and I not only got challengers, but we got challenged. My first thought was who would be dumb enough to want to step up and actually get into the ring against us, but then I learned more about not just who challenged us, but their motives behind doing so and you know? Suddenly it all made a whole lot of sense. J2H?”
Tempest held her hands up and shook her head.
“I got nothing against you. I may still be new to the business but a girl isn’t blind to the world around her. I know everything you’ve been through to get to where you are and all I have to say is mad respect. You went from someone who people saw as a joke and now they see a success story. You went from a kid who debuted with a loss to a teddy bear, to a man who has beaten every single person put in front of him. A record setting World Champion. Hall of Famer. So I have to ask - why Crystal? Why did you ever agree to lower yourself to teaming with her? Oh, right.”
She nodded as she held up an extended finger.
“The wrestling equivalent of a photo op for you; a championship opportunity. I have to admit, I can respect wanting to continue your legacy, but how you go about it? Not so much. You practically fell into a title spot when you agreed to that match with Teddy Warren, and just as the world expected, you won the match and the title. But -- you just up and gave it away the moment you won it! Now you might say it’s because you don’t need any more championships or that you have nothing to prove to anyone, but if that were the case, you wouldn’t be constantly walking back into SCW like a revolving door. You don’t need the money, but you do crave the attention. You could have told the bosses to make it a non-title match, but you continue to want to be the best. You can prove you can win a title, that’s the easy part. Holding onto it? That’s another story. Maybe that’s why you decided not to stick around and defend the Internet Championship. You didn’t want to tarnish your legacy with a loss. You’re unbeaten since you started coming back for these guest spots that everyone loves, and you didn’t want a blemish on your record? Is that it?”
“Because if so, I hate to be the one to let you down but sugar? You agreed to team with the wrong woman because she got you into a tight spot that you won't be able to get out of. It’s just like I said J2H. Mad respect. Hell! You might even call me something of a fan, maybe an admirer of your work. But you’re not walking out of Anchorage with these titles and that’s just plain fact. Have your fun with Mercer, but the moment that tag is made?”
She snapped her fingers.
“There goes that unbeaten streak.”
“Diva. Prima donna. Princess. Show stealer. Usurper. Glory hog. Just a handful of words used over the years to describe the one person who was behind this match - Crystal Zdunich.”
Tempest cast a brief and inquiring look to the camera.
“She is still going by that, right?”
The camera answered with a slight nod in the affirmative. Tempest nodded and resumed her promo work.
“Just had to be sure. How many times over the years since she debuted has she had a new name, a new outlook - new behavior? For a time she was running around, telling anyone who would listen that she had some sort of split personality disorder to explain her actions when in reality, she's just a classic example of a narcissistic sociopath. She changes her ideals at the drop of a hat, pretends like it hasn’t happened and then expects everyone to play along. And if they don’t or they try to call her out on it, she gets all butt hurt offended and begins to play the victim card. Do you see where I’m going with this? She goes out of her way to manipulate others and from what I’ve seen, has done so pretty successfully. Now whether that’s a testament to her skill at manipulating others and her lack of empathy, or just because the people who support her are brain dead sheep, eager to follow, well that’s up for debate. The facts are obvious;”
“Manipulation through aggression and guilt. Impulsive behavior. Lack of empathy. Lying for personal gain. Not learning from mistakes or punishment. If you were to pick up a book and actually learn something, you’d find these and so many other examples that we see from Crystal’s everyday life are signs of a sociopath. And now that I’ve said it and pointed it out, I’m pretty sure Crystal will go running to the first microphone she can reach so she can shed some crocodile tears and play the victim card, casting me as a judgmental bully when really, all I am trying to do this time around is make people see her for what she is; a glorified fraud who is only out for herself!”
“Look over the years at everything she’s done, from the early days right up until now. Despayre got her to the Blast To the Past finals and when they won, she immediately showed her colors, turning on him and taking all the credit for herself. Then when the shit hit the fan for doing that, she apologized and promised to do better and what happened just a few short months ago? Oh yes! She literally put her hands on him again and cost him the chance to be a two-time champion. All because she had her eyes set on a personal goal; his tag team partner at the time, Amber Ryans. She’s been working overtime since then, apologizing and trying to get Despayre to forgive her. But how long will this one last? You’ve attacked your own wife to get a better spot on the overall standings in SCW. Tell me, girl… what won’t you do for the betterment of Crystal?”
Tempest then looked upward and shook her head, sighing with resignation.
“Crystal, you brought this on yourself. All of this, and girl, you’re not fooling anyone. You had a set goal in mind from the moment that you invited J2H onto the set of that dumbass talk show of yours (just another way to get TV time). You knew that you wanted to join women like Mercedes Vargas to become a Grand Slam Champion, and that missing piece of the tapestry was right in front of you the entire time. The moment you invited him, you had a selfish plan and you proved me right. I don’t see how anyone could not have seen it coming because the way you worked in the topic of the Mixed Tag Team titles was about as see-through as an open window. And of course J2H wasn’t about to turn down the thought of adding a new title to his resume, even if the idea of teaming with you was as appealing as eating live bait. Winning championships is just what the guy does, and you can’t fault him for that. It’s just the way you thought you could use him to sneak in under the championship radar and worm your way into yet another title opportunity. I have to admit I was impressed how you even managed to use circumstances that were out of your control to fit into pieces of the puzzle to make your claim to a title shot all the more reasonable. The downside to that was, when you stepped up and tried to play the role of, in your own words, momma bear, that’s when you started to show your truer colors for the world to see. No, not the act of being a loving and protective mother, out to save her baby girl from the monster. But the lying, two-faced manipulator who would use her daughter’s misfortune for her own benefit. All anyone has to do is just look back on when you called me out after I used little Brittany for lawn dart practice and a blind man could see you for what you are!”
“And off topic, what kind of person throws themselves an anniversary celebration the way that Crystal did? Well, nobody else would so why not her? Hm, did someone say something about narcissistic sociopath? Oh, right!”
Tempest snapped her fingers and directed a forefinger in her own direction.
“That was me. See Crystal, you were so caught up in not just your celebration but your plan to call me out to make yourself look better, you completely missed some details and made yourself look like an even bigger fool and liar for all your efforts. All you can accomplish is talk, talk, talk - saying different things about the exact same topic and coming away with absolutely nothing. You tell everyone how your kids had to answer for their own actions, how they needed to learn and how they asked for it… yadda yadda … and then almost immediately after, you use the ‘momma bear’ defense and call me out for what happened to Brittany.”
Tempest held her hands out and shook her head.
“Well, which is it, girl? Momma Bear or the fact your kids have to learn to answer for their own actions? You can’t have it both ways. Either they learn by coming away with their noses bloodied, or you continue to shelter them and try to fight their battles for them. The simple truth is what I did to Brittany never would have happened if she had just kept her nose out of her brother’s matches. How many times had she ran interference because Brayden was too much of a candy ass to gain a win without his sister’s help? And up until then, they were getting away with it and yet you. Said. Nothing! Then, they bit off more than they could chew. They were up against someone, in this case, Fenris, who had a slew of women who were perfectly willing to run interference for him so he could give Brayden the experience of attempting to fight like a man. And look at what happened the moment your boy was cut off from baby sis’s help?”
“He choked.”
Tempest shrugged.
“I didn’t hear one word from out of your collagen injected lips about what Fenris did to Brayden, which leads me to thinking one of two things; either you simply didn’t care because it was Brayden and not Brittany, or you stayed out of it because there was nothing in it for you to gain. Whatever the reason, it really doesn’t shed you in the spotlight for Mother of the Year. You simply bided your time and waited for the first chance you could get to get me out there and add some pressure for your challenge to be answered. If you were really protective of your kids, if you really had cared about their welfare, either of them, you would have acted on that exact same show where Britt took flying lesions because we. Were. Both. There!
“Just consider yourself lucky. Your challenge was answered, and you got what you wanted. Sort of. I just don’t think you quite understand what it was that you were asking for. You were possessed by gold fever. All you saw was a championship belt but not the person that was holding it. You saw a chance to pad your resume and become one of the glorified few of Grand Slam Champions, but you didn’t see who would be standing in your way. Maybe you’re thinking of relying on J2H to handle Austin and the match being over before you ever have to set foot in the ring with me. I’d say that was pretty wishful thinking since the world saw exactly what happened when it was just the two of us inside of that ring. The stupidest thing you could have done, was exactly what you did! Now…”
Tempest actually smiles into the camera and makes the universal ‘cash’ sign with her hand.
“Now you pay. Now, you answer. Your kids won’t be there to save your bony butt. Your wife won’t be around to pull you from the fire. Hell! Even your own tag team partner didn’t care enough to actually come to your rescue then, and once he sees how worthless of a partner you are, he won’t save you here either! Beating you, putting you down, it’ll be the sweetest win I’ve yet to experience. Because this one isn’t about the championships, little girl. It’s about you. And your family. You made it so, and now you’re going to regret it.”