Please post all roleplays here! Have fun and good luck!

I don't have many things to say.

It's Christmas time.

So why don't I share the story that brought me closer with the people I love.

Enjoy.

---

“What’s he doing?”

“He’s just sitting there.”

“Oh.”

I shrugged.

“So can we do this now?”

“No.”

Levi pulled the binoculars away from his face. He then looked down at his phone and saw the time read 11:42pm.

“We still got some time.”

We had driven up to where the tracker I put in Glen’s car had stopped. The Audi was pulled into a house in the Hollywood hills. It looked very nice, and very expensive. And much to my surprise, it was very open. There was only one large gate that was in the driveway, and some tall bushes lining it. There weren’t 20 armed guards patrolling or anything. It was just there. And with a view of the actual hills in front of it, and the narrow 2 line road with minimal traffic going up and down it. We were positioned like we were jungle soldiers in the bush, casing the house. We have been here for almost a week. We drove past it a couple of times, just to make sure that he actually returned here. And sure enough, he did.

We monitored Glen’s actions once he came home to ensure he stayed here. 3 days were quiet. Friday and Saturday, he had guests over for the weekend and a party of some sort. It would have been easy to perhaps get in during the party, but that wasn’t what we were after.

No, this was going to be one shot.

“He must have something good in there.” Levi said, going back to looking through the binoculars.

“What if he doesn’t?” I asked.

Levi looked down at me from the binoculars. He shrugged and sighed.

“Then I guess we kill him.”

Oh. Oh shit. Levi really had only said we should rob him. This was a big step up. And Levi had said that so non-challantly. Like it was no big deal. I had wrestled with this for a long time myself. Like, what would I do if given the chance. And here, the choice was made for me.

I felt for a second like that would be a waste. We spent a lot of time prepping to rob this man. We cased his house, bought ski masks, gloves, hoodies. Levi spent a day teaching me to pick locks in other… less fortunate neighborhoods. This is what we planned for. Robbing this man, teaching him a lesson. Not… murder.

“I don’t know - “

“SHH!”

Levi watched Glen through the binoculars again.

“Alright, he’s going into his bedroom, getting ready for bed. Get ready.”

I stood up, stretching to limber up. My heart was beginning to pump all the adrenaline I could ever want or need into my system.

“He’s going to the bathroom. Let’s go!”

We sprinted down the hill a short way, stopping at the edge of the road. We were under the cover of darkness, but one flashing headlight or nosy neighbor could spoil the whole thing. We waited. No signs of life. No one on the road. No one was outside. We dashed across the road and now, we were on the property.

From here on, we weren’t going to talk.

We moved to the bushes and it was a bit of a mess, but we were through them and racing around to the back. It was just like we practiced. There was no guard dog, no guards, just Glen, alone. Levi had seen on a previous run that there was a camera on the back door. And the front door, even blocked by the gate, was still way too visible. The back door was under a roof, protected from the elements and out of view unless you were really, really looking for it.

Levi went into the backpack we brought, and pulled out some black spray paint. He shook the can, and sprayed, right as I got to the door. I had my lockpicking tools at the ready. But we were racing against the clock. The idea was we needed to be in before he got out of the shower. I poked and prodded around and felt the clicks, and then the unlocking sound hit our ears. I gave Levi the thumbs up as he sprayed one last little spot, ensuring we were not seen.

I lightly pushed the door and it gently and quietly opened. Levi was in, and then I followed closing the door as softly as I could. There was a slight squeak, but we could both hear the shower going. We were right on time. We were in the kitchen and straight ahead was the living room.

We looked around, some nice trinkets that maybe we could sell, but the bags we had were only so big. It wasn’t like we were going to take a TV or anything. Just shit that was worth something. Levi was gently tapping on various surfaces, checking for anything hidden. He studied the bookcases and the media shelves.

Then the water shut off. I waved frantically to get Levi’s attention and Levi saw and crouched down. We both waited and the only sounds were of Glen dicking around in the bathroom, perhaps shaving or something, and then the door opened. He walked out and Levi moved as silently as possible to keep an eye on him. Levi crouched in the dark and his foot must have hit something. A small bang was clear enough for me to hear it.

I heard at first the curious footsteps and then manic ones as Glen was moving in the bedroom. I moved up slightly to by close to the wall as I heard the sound of a pistol cocking.

“Who’s there!?”

Glen shouted as he marched bravely out to where Levi was crouched. Glen flipped on a light as I ducked my head back around the corner. My heart was racing. Had we fucked this up that easily? Did he see me? This is all bad now.

Glen searched around the corner where Levi was, I heard his voice get slightly farther away. And then…

*Crack*

I heard the sound. Glass breaking. The groans and then a struggle beginning. Suddenly, a pistol was swatted into the kitchen where I was. The two were fighting and someone lost a gun. I raced over, picked it up as I saw Glen in his bathrobe on top of Levi. Glen turned hearing my footsteps to spot me, and that is when Levi plunged his knife into the leg and thigh of Glen.

AGHHH!

Glen screamed and fell down, holding his leg. I rushed over, my hand over Glen’s mouth to silence the yells. Glen attempted to fight me as well, but a little push on the handle of the knife and then my own knife to his throat stopped his fight.

“Money. Safe. Jewelry? Hurry up!” Levi whispered as he gathered his wits. I moved my hand so that Glenn could speak.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about! I don’t Aghhh! Mphh…”

I pushed a little on Levi’s knife which was still in Glenn’s leg. Blood was slowly seeping out of that with every pull.

“Not gonna ask twice.”

I pressed my knife against Glenn’s throat as I began to notice that more and more blood was going around the leg, and soaking my pants. I looked down, and then pulled Levi’s knife out in one hard pull.

“AGHHH FUCK!’

I covered his mouth again. I tossed Levi his knife, and then saw even more blood coming out. I looked down at the wound and then at Glenn.

“That’s pretty nasty.”

I removed my hand from his mouth as Levi approached, now with the gun, pointed at Glen’s head. I was now looking at the wound on his thigh.

“Aghh!”

“Shut up, you big baby. Move your hands.”

I slapped his hands away and investigated the wound. It wasn’t bad, but yeah he was losing some blood, but if treated fairly quickly, he’d be okay.

“Well, damn. Look like you hit the Femoral artery. Well, my dude, you have about… I’d say about 3 minutes before you bleed out. I can give you something to stop the bleeding, but you’re gonna have to make a choice. Live with a few less dollars, or die rich.”

What? I…

“Clock’s ticking.”

Okay! Okay! 2nd floor, hallway on the bookshelf. A Safe. Combination is … 0…45….21.

Levi rushed upstairs as I pressed on the wound just to make it look like I was doing something. Levi returned with his bag full, almost to the brim.

“Got it.”

I pressed up off of Glenn, keeping his gun and saluting him with it. I started to leave, Levi handed me the bag.

“Take it, I got his.”

I didn’t bother to object. My heart was still racing. Levi walked back in as I sprinted across the road under the cover of darkness and then I waited.

*BANG*

The loud noise startled me. Levi came sprinting out and soon we were in the car and driving. The rush was unbelievable. We inspected the goods. Money, jewels, weed and cocaine.

“Well, that’s a good haul. He won’t miss it.”

I knew what Levi had done. He didn’t need to say anything about it. I was just happy this part was over. But now… I wanted more.

“Can we do this again?”

Levi looked at an smiled.

“You got it, baby.”

---

The last time I saw you Alexandra, was a battle royal. And I beat you.

Truth be told, I haven’t thought about you since.

Because for the longest time, you have been floating along and unable to do anything with the opportunities given to you over and over. You are very lucky that I am no longer the Bombshell’s champion, because the rules I was getting ready to lay down would have prevented you from getting anything because the facts are in:

You are an underachiever.

You should have ascended to the top of the ladder by now, and yet, you’re happy to just scrape on by, and be handed a match with Alicia Lukas, and you’re telling everyone you’re not going to “waste this opportunity” But the question I have for all that confidence is… where the hell did it come from? You accomplished nothing in the past year. And now it’s 99% complete and NOW you want to act like you’re going to end the year on a high note? Or that things have somehow changed?

Why? Because you beat Victoria Lyons for the first time in a long time? Or because you won some other match, or maybe even two matches in a row? Well bless my soul for the holidays Alexandra. I suppose we should through you a parade because you stopped being complacent and actually won a couple matches here and there to start building momentum.

It’s been rough since I lost the title. I mean, beating Candy is something only Kayla Richards would brag about until she realized how dumb it sounded. And last week? Do you think I needed to beat Bella to accomplish anything Alex? Bella needed that win. Bella was about to end up in the same place you are currently.

 Middle of the road.

You’re floating along and already declaring “this is my year” and we haven’t even gotten to New Year’s yet. 2025 was not your year, and 2026 will be just as mediocre for you. You know why? Because you are trying to convince yourself that things are going to be different. You’re trying to tell yourself that you can do better, and you’re going to do better, and that’s where it ends. Because you have done nothing to make anyone believe that you are any different. You just say these things and you don’t mean them. You want someone to reassure you that you are, but you know you’re not.

Because if this mattered to you like that? If this was a serious attempt? You’d have done it long ago. You wouldn’t be sitting here saying you’re going for it, you’d be doing it. And winning two matches in a row, before I beat you, and then Alicia Lukas probably beats you too and carries on with her nonsense… that just doesn’t do it for me. It doesn’t convince me.

It just makes me think that you want to get the results without the work.

And you see, this is why I was going to have to pay special attention to you after having the title, because I understood as the ruler of the division, I had to bring everyone up to a certain level. And you… you may have been the biggest project. I wouldn’t be wasting my time with Bea or Seleana, people we both know are not at the level and won’t ever get there anyway. No, I mean the people who had something, and yes, you do have something, Alexandra. I saw it. But to bring it out? That would have required a lot of work, and I was willing to work with you. I was willing to help you make something of yourself and finally rise to the level you always wanted.

What do you think I just did with Bella?

This is all part of the dream that they decided to take from me. It was part of the change I was working so hard to get. I was trying so hard to make this place better and not fucking boring, and you see how well that’s going now that I’m not champion. It would have been so fucking good Alexandra. And you would have benefitted.

But now, now that they took it from me. I have to start all over again. And that means sacrifices have to be made. People have to die so that others may live. I have to reach the top of the mountain and regain control. You are standing in my way Alexandra. You have your stupid title shot already. You know what I have? NOTHING.

I have a stupid match with… whatever Reynolds girl because she’s the new flavor of the month and oh boy everybody gonna want to see this match and it fucking sucks. No one in this company understood or understands what I’ve been trying to do this whole time and instead, they are afraid of what I’m doing. They are afraid of change.

So all that new year, new me bullshit you’re doing? It’s just like all the rest.

I’m going to fucking save you from yourself Alexandra. I’m going to stop this madness before it spreads any further. I have to get back on track and get this place where it needs to be, and I really don’t care how it happens. And that’s why you should be very, very wary Alexandra.

I mean, my match isn’t for anything. You have a title shot. And… what happens if you get hurt? What happens if you have a broken arm, or neck? What if you land on your head, or my knee breaks your nose and stuff? You see, this is very dangerous for you. Things are very precarious right now for you.

You can’t stand in the way of my destiny Alexandra.

It could end horribly for you. And that would be terrible, given this is a charity show, and we’re so close to the holidays. Can you imagine?

I sure can.

Trust me

While Young Justice lost the tag team match against Fire and Fury but Harper followed that up by cementing herself as the first Bombshell Internet Title Challenger of the upcoming New Year, first by ruining Victoria’s Wrestler of the Year/Engagement Celebration and then by costing Victoria the match against Alexandra Callaway! The only reason Callaway hadn’t been announced as Victoria’s second challenger was simple: she had already been announced as Alicia Lukas’s first challenge of 2026!

However before she could start planning for Inception VIII and her match against Victoria? She had the annual Christmas Special of Climax Control to get past first and for the second year in a row she was competing in singles competition! This time she was facing her old rival Bea Barnhart who’s husband Bill was set to take on LJ Kasey in singles competition at Inception VIII! Can Harper get the win?

Backstage at Climax Control 444, Boulder, Colorado
Sunday the 14th of December 2025, 21:00pm

Been a hell of a year, hasn’t it?

Between me being the one who finally broke Victoria’s iron grip on the Bombshell Roulette Title at Summer XXXTReme too being within earshot of ending Mercedes’s title reign at High Stakes only for Victoria to stick her nose in my business and take that opportunity from me? Yeah, it wasn’t a great feeling.

And I’d be lying if I said that my actions over the past few weeks haven’t been motivated by revenge against her!

But yeah, with only one show left in the year which, off course, is the Christmas Special, me and Cass are pretty much focussed on getting through the rest of the year and looking at the year ahead, naturally I want to begin the year by ending Victoria’s Internet Title Reign, that goes without saying, but I know from our clashes for the Roulette Title that’s going to be far from easy and unlike this year? Inception VIII will be the first show of 2026.

If nothing else this lets me use the Christmas period to plan out my talking points for this rematch!

”So Cass?” I asked my partner in crime as I walked up to the Aussie and she looked up. ”What exactly is a Twisted Sister House of Fun Match and do you possibly think you’ve pushed the bosses too far?”

”It’s getting me noticed, isn’t it?” Cassie asked with a shrug as she glanced up at me. ”Besides, it’s about time that someone took them to charge regarding their favouritism for the old guard! As for the first question? Fuck if I know, Evelynn told me to wait for the card to drop which will be after Christmas!”

”Guessing you mean the card for Inception VIII and not the Christmas Card?” I asked with a curious look on my face and Cassie nodded to confirm that was what she meant. ”And yeah, it’s gotten you the most attention you’ve had since your debut last year but at what cost? Or do I need to remind you of Jessie’s 2018 saga/”

”Well for one thing? That was under the old administration, emphasis on  old, and when we were both in our mid-teens.” Cassie responded as she shook her head and I just shook my head. ”I don’t think Evelynn and Christian will go as far as a title shot ban in the current day and age.”

”I didn’t think they’d go ahead and humiliate a young wrestler because of the actions of their manager but then Brooke decided to push Pussy Willow and Logan’s paying for it.” I pointed out with a frown and Cassie rolled her eyes. ”Any thoughts on the Christmas Special?”

”One: at least we’re not wrestling each other again this year and even if we were it’s not like we’d be competing for a shot at the Internet Championship again, what with you already being confirmed for the first Bombshell Internet Title Match of the Year.” Cassie responded with a shrug and I nodded in agreement. ”Two: I’m just curious to see if they change up the match types since this will be the first Christmas Special without Mark at the helm.”

”I was thinking the same thing about the Halloween Special but that went unchanged so who knows?” I shrugged my shoulders in response before I got the last New Card Text of the year, I didn’t hear Cassie’s phone go off so I figured I was the only one booked this time around, turns out I was right. ”Well, looks like I’m closing off 2025 with one of SCW’s biggest controversy magnets.”

”To quote Batman Beyond: do you have the slightest idea how little that narrow it down?” Cassie asked with a grin and I shook my head before showing her the text. ”Bea Barnhart, seems they’ve given you an easy win as an early Christmas gift.”

”You say that but one: it’s the Christmas Special and you know shit’s gonna get weird.” I pointed out as I shook my head. ”Two: she beat me in my second match in SCW! By cheating granted but still!”

”Well yeah, but that was when you were new to SCW!” Cassie pointed out and I nodded in response. ”Now you’re facing her ahead of an Internet Title Match!”

”True on both counts.” I admitted with a grin before motioning towards the parking lot. ”Besides, we don’t want to keep Josh waiting!” I added before we left.

Harper’s loft, Las Vegas, Nevada
Thursday the 18th of December 2025, 14:00pm

It’s the literal week before Christmas and I’m nit even thinking about the big day.

Okay, I am a bit but let’s be honest, Christmas does tend to lose its lustre the older you get, I mean sure, I usually aim for the latest big game release/new console (or both what with the Nintendo Switch 2 coming out earlier this year) but once you learn that Santa isn’t real? It just becomes a yearly thing doesn’t it?

Not that I’m going to tell my siblings that, given that they are still kids and all, and right now? I’m looking after them while my auntie Theresa goes out Christmas Shopping.

Yeah, she left it late, it’s a bad habit of hers.

”So McKenzie, Jason.” I commented as I turned to my younger sister and brother and they grinned while the dogs Logan and Xavier sniffed around them. ”You guys looking forward to Christmas?”

“Yeah!” McKenzie responded as the ten year old stroked the older of the two Labradors Xavier. “I can’t wait to see what Santa’s brought us this year!”

”And I’m sure you guys have been on your best behaviour all year.” I responded with a grin as I glanced at my younger sister who was starting to resemble me more and more each day, Jason? Well he looked more like our dad and I’m not saying that because of their shared gender either. ”And don’t even start with me because it’s really hard to stay on the nice list when you’re a professional wrestler.”

“Don’t worry sis, we get it.” Jason assured me and I nodded in response. “What do you think Santa’s going to get us?”

”I don’t know but I’m sure it’ll be awesome.” I grinned in response but at the back of my mind, there was one gift that both me and my siblings wanted more than anything else but knew was impossible: our parents alive and well rather than being murdered two years ago in a home invasion gone wrong, and I didn’t want to bring the mood down so I kept that thought in my head. ”And it’s not all about the gifts off course!”

“Nope! It’s about the food as well!” McKenzie responded and I chuckled to myself. “Oh and family and all that.”

”Good save, you were almost on Santa’s naughty list!” I teased my sister who did a mock pout in response to my statement before the conversation drifted off.

Harper’s loft. Las Vegas, Nevada
Thursday the 18th of December 2025, 21:00pm

*on camera, promo time*

With the new year approaching fast and my second full year as a SCW Bombshell coming to a close with a match against Bea Barnhart? I had a few things to say as I got my webcam set up.

”Twas the week the before Christmas and all through the land, no one was willing to give Bea Barnhart a hand.” I started as I brushed some hair over my shoulders. ”Which is a shame because she could use one at the Christmas Special this Sunday where we’ll face off one on one, and anyone who’s followed my SCW career knows that Bea was my second  ever opponent in SCW.

And also the first one to defeat me! And knowing her? She’s probably touting it as a clean win given how that woman lies more than a politician.”

You know it.

”Honestly? Now that I’m old enough to drink I have considered having a drinking game for every lie told in the average Bea Barnhart promo, or hell, just a Barnhart promo in general! It’s not like Bill’s innocent of this, but then I realized that spending the week before Christmas in hospital because of alcohol poisoning sounds about as much fun as actually sitting through a Barnhart promo!” I added as I shook my head. ”But more to the point? I have one simple goal heading into this match.

End the year with a win! Considering this is the year where I did what no one else could, namely end Victoria’s title reign, I think I’ve more than earned that!” I added before grinning a bit. ”Just like how I’ve earned the right to brag about that fact! I can hear Victoria screaming about it from here!”

And more importantly?

”Bea, it’s time we were honest, this is basically a warm up match for me, hell you might say that Christmas came early, because unlike you? I actually have a match scheduled for Inception next month and I’m challenging Victoria, you know what that makes you Bea?” I asked rhetorically before quickly answering. ”My personal kicking and punching bag!”

It’s that simple.

”I’d say the truth hurts but trust me, as a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and a former amateur wrestling standout? My strikes and submissions are going to hurt a lot more!” I stated as I leaned forward on my desk. ”I may be the youngest on the roster at twenty one but you should know from personal experience how much my kicks hurt, we’ve done this dance before!”

And with that I decided to wrap things up.

”Only this time? You’re not getting any cheap ass wins because I’m going to use you, regardless of what Christmas Stip we end up with on Sunday, as a message for Victori Lyons.” I added as I leaned back in my chair. ”Namely? watch closely bitch because this is a taste of what I’ve got in store for you and Bea? You’re about to learn all over again why the world needs a new hero and her name is “The Slaytanic Avenger” Harper Mason! See you in the ring!”

I turned off the webcam as the scene fades.

~*~Lights, Ladders, and the Law of O’Connell Christmas~*~

The inside of the house had been perfect for weeks. The tree stood tall in the front window, a real one, fat and full, trimmed in white lights and ornaments that told the story of a family still becoming itself. Baby handprints in clay. A tiny wrestling boot ornament Mal pretended not to be emotional about. One with Máire’s name painted in crooked gold letters that Bella insisted was staying forever. The whole place smelled like pine, cinnamon, and whatever Bella’s mom had baked and left behind “by accident” the last time she visited.

Inside? They had crushed it.

Outside? Outside was where they’d dropped the ball.

Bella hadn’t even realized it until Máire, who was bundled in her pink coat and tiny knit hat before they left for some quick shopping, pressed her hands to the big front window and frowned like she’d just uncovered a betrayal.

“No lights,” she announced solemnly.

Bella paused mid-coffee sip, "What was that, baby?”

Máire turned around slowly, eyes wide with concern, "No lights, Mama. House look sad.”

Malachi froze where he stood, halfway through tying his boots. He glanced out the window, then back at his daughter, then at Bella, "Well,” he said carefully, “That feels like a personal attack.”

Bella bit her lip, "She’s not wrong. I can’t believe we completely forgot about the outside of the house.”

“Well, it is the first year and we have been super busy as of late.”

“Well, we are going out, I wonder if we can find anything.” Bella said with Mal giving her that look that told her she was absolutely nuts for it, “Look, I know that look but it’s not just for me, it’s for your daughter.”

“Ok...ok fine, but just ONE store, I’m not bloody driving all over creation for just a few twinkle lights....”

It was five hours later, a very long long trip to three different stores, a big ouch to the credit card and dealing with an over-caffeinated Bella and Máire who was a bundle of energy in her own right, and Malachi O’Connell found himself on the roof of their wrap-around porch.

The porch roof wasn’t especially high, but it was high enough that Bella had planted herself directly below with her hands on her hips, issuing commentary like a very stressed foreman, “Don’t lean like that.”

“I’m fine.” Mal grunted moving a line.

“You said that last time and you slipped.”

“That was one time.”

“ONE TIME TOO MANY.”

Mal, dressed in a heavy jacket, beanie pulled low, gloves on, carefully clipped another string of warm white lights into place, "You married a professional fighter, Bells. I think I can handle a ladder.”

“Yeah, and I’ve taped ribs on that ‘professional fighter’ before,” she shot back, "You fall, I’m dragging your ass inside myself.”

Máire stood next to her in the driveway, holding Luka’s leash with both mittened hands like it was a sacred responsibility. Luka, the husky menace herself, sprinted in frantic circles every time Mal shifted above them, barking like she was attempting a rescue operation. Thankfully she wasn’t yanking little Máire around.

“Luka thinks you’re in danger,” Bella called up.

Mal glanced down, "Luka thinks the mailman is a threat to national security.”

As if on cue, Luka skidded to a stop and let out a furious bark at nothing.

“See?” Mal added.

The yard had slowly transformed around them. From a glowing reindeer family stood near the walkway to a row of candy-cane lights marked the path to the porch. There was also a cheerful inflatable Santa waved near the front steps, already threatening to tip over every time the wind kicked up. And then there was the 10 foot Abominable Snowman. The inflatable had actually been Mal’s idea.

“I thought it’d be funny,” he’d said.

Now, as the blower kicked on when Bella plugged it in, the massive white creature slowly rose from the ground, blue face stretching into existence, arms lifting in a permanent roar. It was at this point that Luka lost her ever loving husky mind. She barked, lunged, skidded, tried to circle it like it was a living enemy, fur bristling, tail whipping behind her.

“DOG,” Máire shouted excitedly, pointing, "BIG MONSTER DOG!”

Bella laughed so hard she had to lean against the ladder, "Oh my God, she thinks it’s real.”

The Abominable finished inflating, towering proudly over the lawn. Luka planted herself in front of it and barked again and again and again. Mal leaned over the edge of the roof to look, "Is she... guarding us?”

“She is 100% prepared to die for this family,” Bella said, wiping tears from her eyes from laughing at her dog and her daughter losing it.

Máire giggled, the sound bright and pure in the cold air, "Good girl, Luka!”

Luka puffed her chest out like she understood the praise and barked louder.

Mal shook his head, smiling despite himself, "This is my life now. I fight grown adults for a living and lose to inflatable snow monsters.”

Bella looked up at him, lights glowing behind him, snow crunching under her boots, their daughter laughing beside her.

“Pretty good life,” she said softly.

He met her eyes and nodded, "Yeah. It really is.”

Finally, Mal climbed down, stepping onto the driveway as Bella reached out to steady him despite his protests. She brushed snow off his jacket, tugged his beanie down straight, kissed him once, quick and warm.

Máire clapped, "Daddy done!”

Mal spread his arms wide, "Daddy is ALL done. All that’s left is for mama to turn it on. You ready?”

“READY!!! MAMA!!! LIGHTS ON!!!”

Bella quickly ran over to the door, opened it and flipped the switch. The house came alive with warm white lights that traced the porch and roofline. The tree inside glowed proudly through the massive front window, visible from the street like a promise. The reindeer shimmered, Santa waved and the Abominable Snowman loomed triumphantly.

Máire gasped, "WOW.”

Bella crouched beside her, arm around her tiny shoulders, "What do you think, kiddo?”

Máire nodded seriously, "House happy now.”

Mal laughed quietly behind them, sliding an arm around Bella’s waist. Luka barked one last triumphant warning at the Abominable before flopping into the snow, exhausted but victorious.

Bella leaned into Mal, watching the lights twinkle against the night sky. It was their First Christmas in the house. First year like this. It was hard-earned, well-loved, chaotic and perfect. And for the first time in a long time, Bella felt something settle in her chest that had nothing to do with fighting.

Home.


~*~Steam, Scars, and the Things That Don’t Wash Away~*~

The bathroom was warm in that quiet, cocooned way that only happened late at night, when the house had finally exhaled.

Steam fogged the mirror, blurring the edges of reality until the world felt smaller, safer. The only sounds were the low hum of the heater, the gentle slosh of water, and the faint, rhythmic creak of the house settling into sleep. Lavender bubbles piled high in the tub, a ridiculous amount of them, spilling over the porcelain edge like Bella had lost a personal vendetta against moderation. She sank deeper into the bath with a contented sigh, shoulders slipping beneath the surface, muscles loosening one knot at a time.

Blessed the Gods, this felt good.

Her blonde hair was twisted up into a messy bun, a few damp curls already escaping and clinging to her neck. Her skin flushed pink from the heat. For once, there was no rush, no crazy schedule, no wrist to tape and at the moment, no flight to catch. Just warmth and stillness and the kind of quiet she didn’t trust but secretly craved.

Malachi leaned against the bathroom counter, arms folded, still fully dressed in a worn hoodie and sweats, watching her with the expression of a man who knew he’d already lost any argument he might attempt tonight.

“You’ve officially used all the bubbles,” he said mildly amused to watch his wife in the large bathtub. There would be every so often that he would join her but he didn’t think now would have been the time, especially with the 2 year old knowing to wake up at any given moment.

Bella cracked one eye open, "That is completely incorrect, sir. I left some in case of emotional emergencies.”

Mal snorted, "That explains why the bathroom looks like a rabid unicorn exploded in here.”

She grinned, lifting one foot out of the water just enough to flick bubbles in his direction, "You love it.”

“I tolerate it,” he corrected, swiping a bubble off his sleeve, "Out of deep marital devotion.”

“Damndabe lies,” Bella said lazily, "You’re just jealous because I’m warm and you’re not.”

“False. I’m emotionally warm and a few other feelings sitting here watching you..”

She rolled her eyes, sinking again, arms floating atop the foam. For a moment, she let herself just be, wife, mother, woman and not a fighter, not a champion, not a problem waiting to happen.

Her eyes drifted to her left forearm where a scar was faint but permanent. It came from an old barbed wire spot. There was another from a ladder rung that bit back. This was among the myriad of a constellation of smaller marks, some faded, some stubborn, but every single one of them...all earned.

Her gaze moved without conscious permission from her knuckles to her wrists. She took one finger and traced her collarbone take the mental notes of the body she lived in that wasn't broken, but it had been paid for.

Mal noticed the shift immediately. He always did, "You okay?” he asked quietly.

Bella hummed, "Mm. Just... thinking.”

“That’s never ominous at all,” he replied, but his tone softened as he moved closer, perching on the edge of the tub. One hand rested against the porcelain near her shoulder, fingers brushing the water, "What about?”

She shrugged, bubbles popping softly against her skin, "It’s weird, isn’t it?”

“What?”

“How easy it is to forget.” Her voice was calm, almost amused, "How hard it was to get here.”

Mal followed her line of sight, his jaw tightening just a fraction. He didn’t interrupt, he never did when she got like this.

“I love this,” Bella continued, "Everything that we have. From the house, to the quiet. You and Máire. The crazy dog that loves to bark at inflatable monsters.” A smile tugged at her lips, "I love being... gentle.”

She turned her head to look at him, "But I’m not built for it alone.”

There it was and that caused Mal to exhale slowly, "You don’t have to be just one thing, you know that right?”

“I know.” She reached up, dragging a line of bubbles onto his sleeve deliberately, "But I tried babe. For a long while I tried being nice and I tried playing polite. I’m pretty sure that I even tried pretending that if I just smiled and behaved and waited my turn, things would sort themselves out.” Her hand disappeared beneath the foam, "And instead,” she said softly, “I felt dull.”

Mal didn’t flinch. He nodded once.

“I should have learned this from you....but...peace doesn’t sharpen you,” she went on, "It cushions you and makes you forget where the edges are.”

She shifted, sitting up slightly, water cascading down her shoulders, bubbles clinging to her skin. Steam curled around her like a shroud.

Mal reached out, brushing a damp curl from her face, "And that scares you?”

“No,” Bella said honestly, "What scares me is pretending I’m not dangerous. There were people saying that I had just spent so long playing nicey nice with people that it may have actually cost me chances that I should have had a while ago.”

Silence settled between them, but it wasn’t heavy, and it most certainly wasn’t strained. Just real like it always was between them.

She looked down at her hands again, turned them over, palms up and palms down.

“These hands don’t know how to be delicate when it matters,” she murmured, "Lately it seems like they only know how to endure, how to hold on and how to break things if they have to.”

Mal’s thumb brushed her shoulder, "They also know how to rock our kid to sleep.”

Bella smiled, soft and small, "Yeah, they do.”

There was a moment of silence between them and then something behind her eyes shifted.

It was acceptance of what she had to become. It wasn’t anger, nor bitterness. Just the solid truth that she had to evolve into something more. She leaned back, letting the water reclaim her, closing her eyes and just calculating her next set of moments. When she opened them again, the playfulness was back.

“Hey,” she said.

“Yeah?”

“When I get out,” she said casually, “Can you hand me the wraps from the drawer?”

Mal raised a brow, "Planning a late-night cardio session?”

“Something like that.”

He studied her face for a long moment, then nodded, "I’ll get them.”

She smirked, "You always do.”

When the water finally cooled, Bella stood, stepping out onto the mat, dripping and unhurried. She wrapped herself in a towel, steam rising from her skin like smoke from a fuse finally lit.

Mal handed her the wraps without a word. Their fingers brushed and that was enough. She began winding the fabric around her hands, methodical. Familiar. The motions came without thought, muscle memory clicking into place.

Each layer felt like armor sliding back where it belonged. Mal leaned against the doorframe, watching, knowing better than to interrupt the ritual.

By the time she finished, Bella flexed her hands once..just once.

The Hardcore Queen hadn’t arrived with a roar, she arrived with a quiet certainty.

And somewhere in the house, the woman, the wife, the mother stepped aside, she was not erased or abandoned, but she was simply making room.

Bella met Mal’s eyes, "Christmas is almost here,” she said lightly.

He smiled, "Yeah.”

“And then?” She tightened the final knot, Bella said, calm and deadly, “It’s going to hurt again.”


~*~Rules of Engagement: Sometimes It Has To Be Your Friends~*~

Denver didn’t feel like December and that was the problem. The winter in Denver was supposed to have teeth bared where it didn’t matter how many layers you had on, it was supposed to be sharp.

Instead, the air was dry, thin, and carrying the faint smell of asphalt and pine instead of snow. There was no bite whatsoever, no frost and not even the glimmer of a flurry. It was just a strange, almost defiant warmth lingering in the low fifties, the kind that made people forget it was supposed to be winter at all. There were Christmas lights still stretched across the plaza, glowing uselessly against bare concrete and brick, twinkling without snow to soften them.

Bella stood beneath them anyway. Across the way, people laughed as shoppers hurried by with bags in hand, kids tugging at parents, begging for cocoa or photos with Santa. There was the normal life and festive life.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket. A message from Mal she didn’t need to read to know the contents of.

You good?

She was and she wasn’t.

The plaza outside the old Denver market hall buzzed with life, street musicians playing off-key carols, tourists lingering longer than they should because the weather let them, kids darting between planters instead of trudging through slush. A massive Christmas tree rose behind her, fully decorated, proud, almost out of place without snow clinging to its branches. Wrapped boxes sat at its base, pristine and untouched.

It was too clean and Bella hated that.

She wore black, boots solid against dry pavement, her coat open just enough to show the wraps on her hands. No gloves tonight....There was no need. The warmth felt wrong on her skin, like the world had forgotten what season it was supposed to be in.

And on top of it all Sunday loomed with Climax Control. The last before Christmas, which was always gimmicked up with unknown stipulations on every match. Of course they were always...well majority of the time...Christmas themed.

She exhaled slowly, watching the breath barely fog, another reminder that things weren’t lining up the way they should.

“Alicia Lukas,” Bella said quietly, tasting the name like a truth she respected, "Wolfslair. Stablemate, which I’m sure some of you guys completely forgot about. Someone that I consider a friend and even a mentor. AND the current reigning SCW Bombshell Roulette Champion. And the woman that I'll be standing across from in a few days, and while her title is not on the line, pride very much in play.”

Bella leaned back against the railing, eyes lifting toward the skyline, toward the mountains barely visible through the haze. Denver always felt like a city that tricked people, thin air, high elevation, things catching up to you faster than expected. It fit her mood perfectly.

“This isn’t about disrespect,” Bella said aloud, voice calm, controlled, "You’ve earned everything you’ve got, Alicia. Every spin of that wheel, every scar you carry.”

Her jaw tightened.

“But you have to know something, I’m done waiting and I’m done giving a shit about people that don’t give a shit about me. We have this unknown match style hangs over us thoughts like a bad idea nobody had stopped yet. Christmas lights wrapped around weapons, tables painted festive red and green, candy canes that snapped instead of sweetened....A holiday theme that would turn cruel the second the bell rings.”

Bella’s mouth curved, but not into a smile, not quite.

“They can make it as cute as they want,” she continued, "They can dress it up and slap tinsel on it and pretend it’s fun. But violence doesn’t care about the season, and as we know pain doesn't give a SHIT about Christmas.”

She stepped closer to the tree, fingers brushing the edge of one of the wrapped boxes. The shiny paper reflected her back at her, fractured, distorted, multiplied. A woman shaped by impact, by endurance, by refusal.

Her scars prickled beneath her clothes, "Every mark on my body is proof,” Bella said softly, "Not of what I lost but of what I survived. I have had to evolve into someone who just puts their entire BEING on the line every single fucking time, without so much as ‘thank you’ nor a ‘fuck you’ from anyone. I know that Mal is worried about me, "

She straightened, shoulders rolling back.

“Alicia, I don’t want to hurt you,” she admitted, "But I will not hesitate, not now. I can’t afford to, not with Inception breathing down my neck and another legend of Kayla Richards being right there waiting on me to slip. Not when everyone seems content to keep me in limbo while Crystal Caldwell and Mercedes Vargas play queen of the mountain with their horrible Telenovela soap opera shit going on.”

Her eyes hardened.

“This Sunday isn’t about friendship or mentorship, it’s about the clarity that I’m still searching for.”

Bella’s fingers flexed inside the wraps, tension finally cracking through her composure.

“Alicia,” she said again, slower this time, heavier, "You’re not just another name on a card to me. You’re someone I’ve watched battle whole ass wars without whining. Someone who never ducked a fight, even when the Roulette wheel damn near tried to ruin her career week after week. You stood in that chaos and you owned it.”

She shook her head once, a faint, bitter smile touching her lips.

“And that’s exactly why this sucks.”

Bella pushed off the railing, pacing now, boots scraping against concrete.

“Because if this were anyone else, I wouldn’t even hesitate. But you?” Her eyes narrowed, "You force me to look at myself. You force me to ask whether I still hesitate when it’s someone I respect. You have ZERO issue in shoving that mirror directly in my face. Especially when it’s someone who stood next to me under the same banner, when it’s someone I’d normally trust to have my back.”

She stopped, dead still.

“And here’s the answer.”

Bella lifted her chin.

“I don’t.”

Her voice didn’t rise. It hardened.

“I won’t pull a punch because we share a locker room. I won’t soften the blow because you’ve been a mentor. I won’t apologize for making a point just because it hurts more when it’s someone I know can take it.”

Her jaw clenched.

“If I’m going to call myself the Queen of Hardcore, if I’m going to walk into Inception with my head high against Kayla, then I don’t get to pick safe opponents. I don’t get to choose comfort. I have to prove that when the line is drawn, I will cross it no matter who’s standing on the other side.”

Bella’s eyes burned now, not with anger but with full resolve.

“So Alicia, understand this,” she said firmly, "This isn’t betrayal...This is brutal honesty. This is me telling you that on Sunday, I’m not your stablemate. I’m not your friend.”

She exhaled once, sharp and final.

“I’m the storm you survive or the one that proves why I wear the crown.”

Bella reached into her coat pocket and pulled out a velvet bag, small and unassuming. She loosened the drawstring and tipped it into her palm. Metal caught the light.

A crown, it was dark steel, jagged, twisted into thorns that looked like they’d tear into flesh as easily as they’d draw blood. It was not remotely elegant. But it was very symbolic.

She held it up beneath the Christmas lights, the warmth of the night and the festive lights doing nothing to soften its edges.

“This isn’t decoration,” Bella said evenly, "This is a statement.”

She lowered it, grip firm.

“I’m coming out with this on because I have fucking EARNED this. When this is over, when the lights are broken, when whatever holiday nightmare they throw at us is finished, I am going to put this on again and I’m going to make my way to Vegas.”

Her gaze burned with certainty.

“Not because I beat a champion and it’s not because I survived another match. But because no one else has paid the price I have as of late.”

Bella lifted the crown just slightly, shadows cutting across her face.

“I am the Queen of Hardcore and I’m going to show everyone that this is a monster that not even her friends can stop.”

The plaza buzzed on, oblivious with all the laughter, music, warmth and Bella turned away from all of it.

Sunday was coming. And even without the cold...

Christmas was still going to hurt.