Post by MJ Bell on Mar 19, 2014 22:09:47 GMT -5
March 19- LA Gym, FL
There is a separate room in the LA Gym with weight lifting equipment and a small wrestling ring in the corner. It is empty and almost quiet. A clink of a chains rubbing together, a small grunt and a swoosh from a punching bag moving. MJ's feet shift her weight from foot to foot, both of her fists level before she throws it into the tough surface. Her breath is controlled, even but internally she isn't calm. MJ's chest feels tight. Her cheeks flush as her whole body feels consumed by fire.
Her head feels hot and stuffy but every time she throws a punch the emotion releases. The skin on her knuckles is raw even if they are protected under a wrap. A sting burns from her knuckles all the way up her arm but she doesn't stop. It is possible that the skin on her hand is bleeding but this doesn't slow her pace down. For the first few days after the trip to the hospital, the nightmares woke her. It's ridiculous how much Sean robbed from her with a simple trip to the hospital. To make it worse, when she returned to her hotel room that psychopath had broken in to try and take away her piece of mind. After the initial shock wore away it had washed back down into anger.
Melissa had panicked when she heard what happened and insisted that the two travel together. It wasn't a huge deal to MJ but she agreed to put Mel at some ease. It hadn't taken the two of them long to make it down to Florida. Ever since arrival, MJ had returned to a workout schedule.
The anger is an annoying nagging feeling that drives her forward in this match. Honestly, there is no way to care less about what Sean Fuller or his wife had to say about it. Whatever tactics he has plan wouldn't bother her in the least. It is the simple remaining fact that everything she has worked for was almost erased. MJ’s eye's narrow and suddenly she is recklessly swinging to hit the bag. She yells before kicking at the bag. Both of her arms reach up to stop the bag but the force from it knocks the air out of her lungs. Hunching over she pants heavy with her hand gripping her stomach.
“Yowuch. That looked painful, sweetness.”
MJ turns around to see Melissa standing in the doorway holding a Subway's bag. MJ’s head shakes as she wipes the back of her head against her sweaty forehead. She doesn't reply to her friend, instead she begins to punch to bag again. As Melissa walks over to the red head she is giving MJ a concerned expression.
Melissa Reed: “Why don't you take a break from this?”
MJ Bell: “No.”
Melissa Reed: “MJ, come on. You must be hungry... You didn't even eat breakfast...”
MJ Bell: “Go away, Melissa.”
She growls throwing her whole weight into another punch but Melissa doesn't move from her spot. She just folds her arms under her chest, waiting. Her presence doesn't stop the rhythm that MJ is picking up again.
Melissa Reed: “C'mon, hon, you are killing yourself. You need a break.”
MJ Bell: “I don't want a break.”
Melissa Reed: “I've been where you are. Angry, wanting to get some revenge against a person who wronged you. If you go into the match angry then you are going to slip up. I know that doesn't sound fair. Advice? Take a step away and calm down.”
MJ Bell: “I am not going to calm down!”
She turns glaring at a very calm Melissa.
MJ Bell: “You can't come in here and tell me to calm down! Go away, Melissa! I don't want to hear another person tell me what I should do. It isn't anyone but me in this fucking situation. I have people telling me to stoop to his level or that they'd handle it or- or that I can't do it. Or tell me that I have to let my anger go. How the hell is someone going to tell me what to do? I have every right to be angry about all of this. You know, I had these.... These fucking nightmares that scared me and then when I let it take over everything, I get so angry... I can't think straight. So you know what? I'm not going to fucking calm down! That asshole is going to pay for what he did.”
Melissa nods her head, refolding her arms before she gives MJ a straining smile.
Melissa Reed: “I know, sweetness. I know. When you've calm down we'll go out to lunch, okay? I'll go wait for you.”
MJ turns around, returning to beating the punching bag. Her features change; her lips turning downwards at their corners and her eyebrows scrunch up but she doesn’t stop.
Later
After taking her anger out on the punching bag, MJ rubs her red, sore knuckles as she makes her way out of the gym to a quaint, little picnic area outside. Outside, Melissa is waiting for her friend at a picnic table with a couple of subway sandwiches and a comic book which she seems rather interested in as she munches away on potato chips. MJ runs her fingers through her greasy hair watching Melissa flip another page. Her hazel eyes are down as she walks to the table. For a moment she stands there with her index scratching against the top of the wooden surface. What can she say?
MJ Bell: “How long have you been out here?”
Melissa peeks up from her comic stopping mid-chew. There is a small pause before she begins to chew again. After she swallows she waves her hand out.
Melissa Reed: “Not too long. Are you hungry?”
Melissa is smiling, pushing the bag holding their two sandwiches to MJ. The sunset haired female inhales sharply before she plops down to the bench and pulls one out from the bag.
MJ Bell: “Thanks...”
The two of them just sit there. One eating as the other one flips through a comic munching chips. MJ continuously sneaks glances at Melissa to see if she is angry but there are no signs as she appears to be as content as ever. That is a quality that the two of them seem to share. Well, for the most part. This time it isn't MJ trying to help a friend in need. It's Melissa fitting in her old role. Kenshin and her are keeping MJ from panicking or doing something drastic. MJ swallows the last bit of the first half, her eyes wandering around the table.
MJ Bell: “I'm sorry about earlier... You were only trying to help me and I snapped at you.”
Melissa Reed: “Eh, don't worry about it, love. I know you are under a lot of pressure right now. I'm not going to hold a grudge.”
MJ Bell: “ You never do.”
They exchange smiles. Melissa finally reaches over to pull her sandwich out. MJ starts on the second half while stealing a few chips. A lot of the anger reseeds as the two of them enjoy lunch. MJ didn't notice how hungry she actually was.
MJ Bell: “You did an awesome job in your debut by the way. I was so wrapped up the other day that I never told you. It's a shame you lost.”
Melissa Reed: “Yeah, it is but you can't win 'em all. Alice and Mia are no pushovers so I'm not going to die over not winning.”
She gives MJ a wink which sparks another smile. Losing is never something that eats at Melissa. It's one of the traits that MJ loves about her.
MJ Bell: “Of course not, of course not. So, do you have any plans for Black Out 2?”
Melissa Reed: “Yes and no. I figured I'd do something to help YOU out. It's a surprise though. No spoilers.”
Melissa lifts her index to her lips.
Melissa Reed: “Enough about wrestling. I don't want you thinking about Sean again. Let's talk about something else... Liiiiiike, Kenshin. Let's talk about him!“
MJ Bell: “Like what? I don't really want to talk about Kenshin.”
Melissa Reed: “Why not?”
MJ Bell: “Because... I'm focused on one thing right now and it has nothing to do with him.”
A ear-to-ear cat like grin spreads on Melissa's lips for unknown reasons to MJ. Melissa props her chin on her hand.
Melissa Reed: “You two are just so cute. I wish one of you would just make a move.”
MJ Bell: “Mel, drop it.”
MJ throws a wrapper at Melissa. As Melissa cracks up as MJ returns to her meal. There is a slight pause before one of them speaks again.
Melissa Reed: “Have you thought about what you are going to say? You know, for your promo?”
MJ bell: “I've been trying to think of something. Hopefully it's good. To be honest I was never all that good at smack-talk. Finn was always our mouth-piece. He knew how get under peoples skin.”
Melissa Reed: “Take it from someone who likes to talk... It doesn't matter the length so long as you are saying something important.”
MJ nods her head, crushing the wrapper up before she sets it aside.
MJ Bell: “I'll think of something...”
Melissa Reed: “You will, sweetness. Are you still going to return to training?”
MJ Bell: “I have to Mel. I have to be ready for all of this. If I... If I slip but then that is it. There are no second chances with this. Sean Fuller, as much as I hate to say this, is a real threat. He is bat-shit crazy and I can't afford to be rusty. He is already trying to rattle me, which, to be honest, is only making me more ready for this. If he has to return to using words to get under my skin and silly tactics then I know there is some part of him worried.”
Melissa Reed: “I'm going to let you keep on this war path because it's what you need but take a chance to breathe.”
MJ Bell: “I know that I'll need to take a break I mean but not today. I have one thing that needs my attention. I can't afford to lose this match. It might mean absolutely nothing to Fuller or his wife but I'm sure the two of them WILL care once I win.”
Melissa Reed: “I understand, MJ. You don't have to explain anything to me.”
MJ runs her fingers through her hair then rubs her knuckles before she stands up again. Melissa gives her friend a smile before MJ walks back to the gym.
March 19- A White Ford
MJ is sitting on the bed of her truck. She is leaning forward with her palms gripping the edge of the trunk. When she looks up there is a fierce look in her eyes.
MJ Bell: “I have faced a lot of demons in my life. None of them were frights under my bed that we fear as children. None of them had disgusting features with pointed tails and horns. No, all of them were humans. Different crazed individuals that attempted to break something in me. They loathed it because it halted a power-trip. It is my 'hero' curse. Yeah, my chivalrous reflex that drives me to interfere in matters that I have no business in. It was installed when I was a child and it only grew when I became an adult. There is something that they never understood though... You can't break it. You can't twist it into something ugly and you can't control it. Everything single thing out of their mouths, that sick madness, mindless words to slip into my mind to crack me from the inside out. They all tried to sneak into the weakness they thought they saw in me. ”
She jumps away from the truck with her arms spreading out.
“Do I look broken to you? In the end, it was all dizzying sentences all swirling around in the air. There isn't anything you can say, Sean. Not one single freaked out line that I haven't heard before. Maybe it was all phrased differently, maybe it wasn't so direct but it is all the same. You want me? Crave me? Fine. Here I am, come and get me! When we came face-to-face you must have seen something that wasn't there. An illusion in my personality that you thought you could take advantage of. I'm not something you can contain or take a hold over. I'm certainly not a damsel in distress that is going to let a monster kidnap her. ”
MJ's hands are in her pockets now, a small smile on her face.
“You want to be a big bad monster, Sean? Something that lurks in the shadows or under my bed when I sleep at night. Creep inside my dreams to transform them into nightmares? You want me to fear you but I'm not a child anymore. I'm not afraid of the darkness or the 'monster' under my bed. If you want to be that monster then go ahead but just like all monsters... when the sun rises, you'll be nothing more than a distant memory that no one has time for remembering. In fact, when night comes again you'll be gone. You'll have no power to slip into my dreams and certainly no strength to keep an eye on me.”
Slowly she takes a seat back on the truck bed with her arms at her sides once more.
“I don't know what you think I am, but I know you're wrong. A part of you believes there is an understanding you have of my mind and it's functions... Should have left the psychology to Brianna. Since I know it is an act whenever you say that you understand me. I’m sure even after all that, you beam with pride at the handy work you did and all those creepy things said..I suppose you think I should be scared of you, don't you, Sean? You invited yourself into my hotel room, left things behind for me to find...”
She tosses something towards the camera but it falls short and lands somewhere on the ground.
“As for your request, screw you. After all the flattery you force-fed me, it didn't change a thing. Continue to claim that you're stalking me. It's all in a sorry attempt to try to drag me into a certain state of mind. You want me to be anxious, worried, concerned and constantly looking behind me? I'm not worried about you. This for a shock factor and I won't give you the satisfaction. I've dealt with people like you but that I've out-grown fearing pretend monsters. There isn't a thing you can do that is going to trip me up in this match. I want you to keep trying with the plans to inflict pain on me and strip me down. Encase me within that odd affection you now have for me. I'm sure you'll be shocked when the end of the match is not what you expected. When all the smoke clears from the match, when all the crowd voices die down and you open your eyes... I wonder if it'll be a crushing blow when you see me standing. When you finally see that you can't touch me or infect me with all that poison.”
The camera zooms a little closer to her face.
“There are many ways to defeat a monster. I've figured them all out. Even the toughest monsters fall one way or another. They slink their way back to the holes they live in. Sure, you are an evil creature now, Sean, but when I shed light on you at Black Out, when I reveal that there are no monsters to fear anymore, and you have to look in the mirror. Will there still be a beast looking back at you?“
MJ stands up and the scene fades to darkness.
There is a separate room in the LA Gym with weight lifting equipment and a small wrestling ring in the corner. It is empty and almost quiet. A clink of a chains rubbing together, a small grunt and a swoosh from a punching bag moving. MJ's feet shift her weight from foot to foot, both of her fists level before she throws it into the tough surface. Her breath is controlled, even but internally she isn't calm. MJ's chest feels tight. Her cheeks flush as her whole body feels consumed by fire.
Her head feels hot and stuffy but every time she throws a punch the emotion releases. The skin on her knuckles is raw even if they are protected under a wrap. A sting burns from her knuckles all the way up her arm but she doesn't stop. It is possible that the skin on her hand is bleeding but this doesn't slow her pace down. For the first few days after the trip to the hospital, the nightmares woke her. It's ridiculous how much Sean robbed from her with a simple trip to the hospital. To make it worse, when she returned to her hotel room that psychopath had broken in to try and take away her piece of mind. After the initial shock wore away it had washed back down into anger.
Melissa had panicked when she heard what happened and insisted that the two travel together. It wasn't a huge deal to MJ but she agreed to put Mel at some ease. It hadn't taken the two of them long to make it down to Florida. Ever since arrival, MJ had returned to a workout schedule.
The anger is an annoying nagging feeling that drives her forward in this match. Honestly, there is no way to care less about what Sean Fuller or his wife had to say about it. Whatever tactics he has plan wouldn't bother her in the least. It is the simple remaining fact that everything she has worked for was almost erased. MJ’s eye's narrow and suddenly she is recklessly swinging to hit the bag. She yells before kicking at the bag. Both of her arms reach up to stop the bag but the force from it knocks the air out of her lungs. Hunching over she pants heavy with her hand gripping her stomach.
“Yowuch. That looked painful, sweetness.”
MJ turns around to see Melissa standing in the doorway holding a Subway's bag. MJ’s head shakes as she wipes the back of her head against her sweaty forehead. She doesn't reply to her friend, instead she begins to punch to bag again. As Melissa walks over to the red head she is giving MJ a concerned expression.
Melissa Reed: “Why don't you take a break from this?”
MJ Bell: “No.”
Melissa Reed: “MJ, come on. You must be hungry... You didn't even eat breakfast...”
MJ Bell: “Go away, Melissa.”
She growls throwing her whole weight into another punch but Melissa doesn't move from her spot. She just folds her arms under her chest, waiting. Her presence doesn't stop the rhythm that MJ is picking up again.
Melissa Reed: “C'mon, hon, you are killing yourself. You need a break.”
MJ Bell: “I don't want a break.”
Melissa Reed: “I've been where you are. Angry, wanting to get some revenge against a person who wronged you. If you go into the match angry then you are going to slip up. I know that doesn't sound fair. Advice? Take a step away and calm down.”
MJ Bell: “I am not going to calm down!”
She turns glaring at a very calm Melissa.
MJ Bell: “You can't come in here and tell me to calm down! Go away, Melissa! I don't want to hear another person tell me what I should do. It isn't anyone but me in this fucking situation. I have people telling me to stoop to his level or that they'd handle it or- or that I can't do it. Or tell me that I have to let my anger go. How the hell is someone going to tell me what to do? I have every right to be angry about all of this. You know, I had these.... These fucking nightmares that scared me and then when I let it take over everything, I get so angry... I can't think straight. So you know what? I'm not going to fucking calm down! That asshole is going to pay for what he did.”
Melissa nods her head, refolding her arms before she gives MJ a straining smile.
Melissa Reed: “I know, sweetness. I know. When you've calm down we'll go out to lunch, okay? I'll go wait for you.”
MJ turns around, returning to beating the punching bag. Her features change; her lips turning downwards at their corners and her eyebrows scrunch up but she doesn’t stop.
Later
After taking her anger out on the punching bag, MJ rubs her red, sore knuckles as she makes her way out of the gym to a quaint, little picnic area outside. Outside, Melissa is waiting for her friend at a picnic table with a couple of subway sandwiches and a comic book which she seems rather interested in as she munches away on potato chips. MJ runs her fingers through her greasy hair watching Melissa flip another page. Her hazel eyes are down as she walks to the table. For a moment she stands there with her index scratching against the top of the wooden surface. What can she say?
MJ Bell: “How long have you been out here?”
Melissa peeks up from her comic stopping mid-chew. There is a small pause before she begins to chew again. After she swallows she waves her hand out.
Melissa Reed: “Not too long. Are you hungry?”
Melissa is smiling, pushing the bag holding their two sandwiches to MJ. The sunset haired female inhales sharply before she plops down to the bench and pulls one out from the bag.
MJ Bell: “Thanks...”
The two of them just sit there. One eating as the other one flips through a comic munching chips. MJ continuously sneaks glances at Melissa to see if she is angry but there are no signs as she appears to be as content as ever. That is a quality that the two of them seem to share. Well, for the most part. This time it isn't MJ trying to help a friend in need. It's Melissa fitting in her old role. Kenshin and her are keeping MJ from panicking or doing something drastic. MJ swallows the last bit of the first half, her eyes wandering around the table.
MJ Bell: “I'm sorry about earlier... You were only trying to help me and I snapped at you.”
Melissa Reed: “Eh, don't worry about it, love. I know you are under a lot of pressure right now. I'm not going to hold a grudge.”
MJ Bell: “ You never do.”
They exchange smiles. Melissa finally reaches over to pull her sandwich out. MJ starts on the second half while stealing a few chips. A lot of the anger reseeds as the two of them enjoy lunch. MJ didn't notice how hungry she actually was.
MJ Bell: “You did an awesome job in your debut by the way. I was so wrapped up the other day that I never told you. It's a shame you lost.”
Melissa Reed: “Yeah, it is but you can't win 'em all. Alice and Mia are no pushovers so I'm not going to die over not winning.”
She gives MJ a wink which sparks another smile. Losing is never something that eats at Melissa. It's one of the traits that MJ loves about her.
MJ Bell: “Of course not, of course not. So, do you have any plans for Black Out 2?”
Melissa Reed: “Yes and no. I figured I'd do something to help YOU out. It's a surprise though. No spoilers.”
Melissa lifts her index to her lips.
Melissa Reed: “Enough about wrestling. I don't want you thinking about Sean again. Let's talk about something else... Liiiiiike, Kenshin. Let's talk about him!“
MJ Bell: “Like what? I don't really want to talk about Kenshin.”
Melissa Reed: “Why not?”
MJ Bell: “Because... I'm focused on one thing right now and it has nothing to do with him.”
A ear-to-ear cat like grin spreads on Melissa's lips for unknown reasons to MJ. Melissa props her chin on her hand.
Melissa Reed: “You two are just so cute. I wish one of you would just make a move.”
MJ Bell: “Mel, drop it.”
MJ throws a wrapper at Melissa. As Melissa cracks up as MJ returns to her meal. There is a slight pause before one of them speaks again.
Melissa Reed: “Have you thought about what you are going to say? You know, for your promo?”
MJ bell: “I've been trying to think of something. Hopefully it's good. To be honest I was never all that good at smack-talk. Finn was always our mouth-piece. He knew how get under peoples skin.”
Melissa Reed: “Take it from someone who likes to talk... It doesn't matter the length so long as you are saying something important.”
MJ nods her head, crushing the wrapper up before she sets it aside.
MJ Bell: “I'll think of something...”
Melissa Reed: “You will, sweetness. Are you still going to return to training?”
MJ Bell: “I have to Mel. I have to be ready for all of this. If I... If I slip but then that is it. There are no second chances with this. Sean Fuller, as much as I hate to say this, is a real threat. He is bat-shit crazy and I can't afford to be rusty. He is already trying to rattle me, which, to be honest, is only making me more ready for this. If he has to return to using words to get under my skin and silly tactics then I know there is some part of him worried.”
Melissa Reed: “I'm going to let you keep on this war path because it's what you need but take a chance to breathe.”
MJ Bell: “I know that I'll need to take a break I mean but not today. I have one thing that needs my attention. I can't afford to lose this match. It might mean absolutely nothing to Fuller or his wife but I'm sure the two of them WILL care once I win.”
Melissa Reed: “I understand, MJ. You don't have to explain anything to me.”
MJ runs her fingers through her hair then rubs her knuckles before she stands up again. Melissa gives her friend a smile before MJ walks back to the gym.
March 19- A White Ford
MJ is sitting on the bed of her truck. She is leaning forward with her palms gripping the edge of the trunk. When she looks up there is a fierce look in her eyes.
MJ Bell: “I have faced a lot of demons in my life. None of them were frights under my bed that we fear as children. None of them had disgusting features with pointed tails and horns. No, all of them were humans. Different crazed individuals that attempted to break something in me. They loathed it because it halted a power-trip. It is my 'hero' curse. Yeah, my chivalrous reflex that drives me to interfere in matters that I have no business in. It was installed when I was a child and it only grew when I became an adult. There is something that they never understood though... You can't break it. You can't twist it into something ugly and you can't control it. Everything single thing out of their mouths, that sick madness, mindless words to slip into my mind to crack me from the inside out. They all tried to sneak into the weakness they thought they saw in me. ”
She jumps away from the truck with her arms spreading out.
“Do I look broken to you? In the end, it was all dizzying sentences all swirling around in the air. There isn't anything you can say, Sean. Not one single freaked out line that I haven't heard before. Maybe it was all phrased differently, maybe it wasn't so direct but it is all the same. You want me? Crave me? Fine. Here I am, come and get me! When we came face-to-face you must have seen something that wasn't there. An illusion in my personality that you thought you could take advantage of. I'm not something you can contain or take a hold over. I'm certainly not a damsel in distress that is going to let a monster kidnap her. ”
MJ's hands are in her pockets now, a small smile on her face.
“You want to be a big bad monster, Sean? Something that lurks in the shadows or under my bed when I sleep at night. Creep inside my dreams to transform them into nightmares? You want me to fear you but I'm not a child anymore. I'm not afraid of the darkness or the 'monster' under my bed. If you want to be that monster then go ahead but just like all monsters... when the sun rises, you'll be nothing more than a distant memory that no one has time for remembering. In fact, when night comes again you'll be gone. You'll have no power to slip into my dreams and certainly no strength to keep an eye on me.”
Slowly she takes a seat back on the truck bed with her arms at her sides once more.
“I don't know what you think I am, but I know you're wrong. A part of you believes there is an understanding you have of my mind and it's functions... Should have left the psychology to Brianna. Since I know it is an act whenever you say that you understand me. I’m sure even after all that, you beam with pride at the handy work you did and all those creepy things said..I suppose you think I should be scared of you, don't you, Sean? You invited yourself into my hotel room, left things behind for me to find...”
She tosses something towards the camera but it falls short and lands somewhere on the ground.
“As for your request, screw you. After all the flattery you force-fed me, it didn't change a thing. Continue to claim that you're stalking me. It's all in a sorry attempt to try to drag me into a certain state of mind. You want me to be anxious, worried, concerned and constantly looking behind me? I'm not worried about you. This for a shock factor and I won't give you the satisfaction. I've dealt with people like you but that I've out-grown fearing pretend monsters. There isn't a thing you can do that is going to trip me up in this match. I want you to keep trying with the plans to inflict pain on me and strip me down. Encase me within that odd affection you now have for me. I'm sure you'll be shocked when the end of the match is not what you expected. When all the smoke clears from the match, when all the crowd voices die down and you open your eyes... I wonder if it'll be a crushing blow when you see me standing. When you finally see that you can't touch me or infect me with all that poison.”
The camera zooms a little closer to her face.
“There are many ways to defeat a monster. I've figured them all out. Even the toughest monsters fall one way or another. They slink their way back to the holes they live in. Sure, you are an evil creature now, Sean, but when I shed light on you at Black Out, when I reveal that there are no monsters to fear anymore, and you have to look in the mirror. Will there still be a beast looking back at you?“
MJ stands up and the scene fades to darkness.