N E W Y O R K C I T Y S U B W A Y -- B M T C A N A R S I E L I N E
Mercedes expels a short breath and stares at her watch for the fifth time for what seemed like an hour. She realized that the train was late while waiting at the train station since before noon. One of the things she hated about taking the subway was sometimes how late it can be. Today was no exception.
Mercedes finished reading a travel magazine from a month ago, then leans back in the metal bench — those sometimes-convenient, often-dirty stainless steel slabs that provide a few minutes' respite while the subway comes. She inhales deeply, shuts her eyes.
The last few weeks hasn't been the usual bragging about who she is and what she's done spiel she's accustomed to. Since losing to Bobbie Dahl months ago, Sin City Wrestling hasn't seen the Argentine with her hands raised lately. Losing the Bombshell Roulette Championship at Summer XXXtreme was a bitter pill to swallow. A loss to newcomer Andrea Hernandez was bad enough. Combined that with losing to the retiring Melody Grace and a soul- crushing defeat to Seleana Zdunich one week after Mercedes ended her dryspell against Keira Fisher-Johnson, and Mercedes might as well have followed Melody into retirement.
Nobody how good you are, no one is invincible. Whether you're the most decorated wrestler in the entire company, or a hotshot who has a rocketship strapped to her back as the current women's world champion.
Climax Control 253 and High Stakes IX may not have gone the way that he wanted. Two months of losses may not have gone the way she wanted, but excuses wasn't going to cut it. She failed, that's just the way it is.
But the thing about Mercedes is when she does fail, she dusts herself off to and gets ready to fight another day. She dreams about that next opportunity to right the ship and get that next elusive win.
Mercedes felt sorry for Samantha Marlowe who was in her path. It wasn't for lack of talent either. She was good.
Come Sunday, she would have to remind her and show the world why Mercedes was just that much better.
The horn from the train interrupts her thoughts. She hears the train coming, now rolling around the line. The train comes to a complete stop. The moment Mercedes steps on, she almost wished she hadn't. Thanksgiving festivities were already in force as a group of subway passengers helped themselves to a turkey dinner aboard the L train.
Mercedes' friends noticed her and waved her over.
Irma: Mercedes! You've got to see this.
Mercedes: That's just it. I don't know what I'm seeing. Is this real life?
Hugo: Or is it just fantasy.
Tomas: Caught in a landslide.
Ricardo: No escape from reality.
The train lurches forward.
Mercedes: So this is why the L train was late?
Ricardo: Turns out you can make a whole 15 pound turkey with the time it takes to use the L train so this is a great use of time.
Tomas: Who knew? Care to join?
Irma:
Mercedes: I would never eat food on a train that came pre-wrapped. I would never.
Tomas: Every Thanksgiving dinner has a Peppermint Patty at it - invites self, bitches about the food, causes trouble. Don't be a Peppermint Patty.
Mercedes takes out her iPhone, ready to take a selfie.
Mercedes: I'm going tell my parents this was the first Thanksgiving.
~~~
It's Not Whether You Win or Lose: Never Meet Your Heroes
Present Day • L O S A N G E L E S, C A L I F O R N I A
[REC•]
"Some things are better left unsaid, but you can bet I'm going to say it anyway. I can't help being who I am."
Mercedes smiles as the cameras are warming up. The SCW Hall of Famer is wearing her authorized SCW t-shirt paired with skinny jeans. Santa Monica Pier is behind her.
"You know that gluttonous feeling you have after eating Thanksgiving dinner, so full and happy? It's the opposite of where I am after my last match.
"Starving for a win.
"Maybe you found myself in a situation like mine. You've lost a match that you were really hoping to win, and you're sore and disappointed. You catch your flight, get home, set your bags down. You have 48 hours before you have to travel again... ...what do you do next?
"That's where I am now ahead of the upcoming Climax Control in Primm, Nevada. Christmas is just around the corner, but it looks like I've got my Christmas gift kind of early because I'm facing Samantha Marlowe. Again."
Shrugging and spreading her hands, Mercedes looks aside slightly before dropping the expression for waving off the camera with her free hand. If familiarity breeds contempt then she was doing a great job hiding it.
"Not for nothing, I wouldn't miss this match for the entire world. Sure, there's nothing at stake in this match outside of momentum here, but that's more so for you than me, Samantha."
Mercedes pauses for a long moment, her eyes closed, clenching her fist, emotions having caught up with her state of mind. Only when she opened her eyes again and looked up at the camera did the next words were spoken with conviction.
"Last show, I couldn't help but heard you say that you're going to be the grinch and dash her dreams of becoming the Bombshell Roulette champion in your title match at December 2 Dismember and while I don't think you'll have much to worry about in your next defense, I think I'm more of the Grinch between the two of us, and it's not difficult to see why. As a matter of fact, you might as well call me the Grinch of the women's division because no title is safe when I'm around, and that's something every woman on this roster should be afraid of, but especially you, Samantha.
"Almost every match between us has seen me take away something you have. Three years ago, it was the World Bombshell Championship. Last year, it was the World Mixed Tag Titles. This year, the Bombshell Roulette Championship. This may be a rivalry, but not when it's become so one-sided, as far as singles between us. Because if memory serves me correctly, sweetheart, you've never beat me in a singles match ever and your only pinfall win over me was in a tag match - and that was in the Blast in the Past Tournament two years ago. Trust me, you would rather have Alicia or Sierra beating on you than me.
"The one thing I at least respect you for is that unlike the other idiots on the roster, you don't talk about act as if I'm not relevant. When it comes down to you and me one-on-one, I have your number, Sammie. I shouldn't have to prove that for the past six years who the better wrestler is between us. You holding a championship doesn't change that."
Nodding her head, Mercedes allows her words to settle in and find their place in the hearts and minds of those watching. The indignant expression remains on her face as Mercedes crosses her arms
"The preview written about our match had it about right. I've accomplished just about everything there is to do in this company, and an the only woman to win every championship there is available to in the women's division. I am a bonafide legend in this company. I have forged a legacy that will be hard to match by any woman - or man - walking behind me.
Sammi, you're about to step in the ring with one of the most decorated performers in SCW history and, yes, if you want to go Vegas confident, if you want to go December 2 Dismember with momentum on your side, then a victory over me isn't just a must, it's necessary. History, though, isn't on your side.
Mercedes swipes a hand over face. The once proud smile she had has transformed into a serious expression.
"¡Eres una guerrera y bien que sólo las mordeduras el viento!"
"I am a warrior and I've come prepared!
Looking deadset into the camera lens, her voice drops to a whisper though her words hold conviction behind them. She pauses, mostly for dramatic effect.
"Estar preparado para lo peor, esperar lo mejor."
"Prepare for the worst, hope for the best."
She pauses for effect, lowering her voice just above a whisper.
"Y que la suerte está siempre en su favor.”
"And may the odds be ever in your favor."]
