AFW Karaoke Night 2: Hot Tub Karaoke Machine. (Also known as Angel's Birthday Bash!)

Angel held up the robe in front of herself, looking it over, whistling softly at the sight. "This is...impressive, chica," she said plainly, obviously impressed and a bit taken aback by the gift. She looked over it a little bit more, then started to fold it back up, looking towards Ace to flash her a quick wink before looking back to Carmen. "It'll go well with my new jersey, I think!"

She slipped the robe back into it's box, and moved to place it with the rest of her gifts. "We met last year," she answered Adrian, motioning for the cosplayer to fill her up a drink. "Tiffany had a karaoke party year, and we ran into each other there. We've done a bit of training together too, just a little practice here and there." She mused for a bit on the previous year's karaoke event, and shook her head, looking towards the other women that had been there for the meet-up.

"Man. Reika, huh? I'm so damn glad she's not here with us this year!"

Tiffany was also impressed with Carmen's gift, nodding as the Latina explained the benefits of having one. Both practical and fashionable, and something the Texan could see Angel wearing to the ring.

"Man, that's a work of art! I mean, it looks good, really good." she praised Carmen's present.

She took a deep drink of the glass in front of her, listening as Angel explained how she and Carmen had met. She raised an eyebrow as Angel also explained that they had a few training sessions together since that meeting.
"Oh? Thinking of switching your striking game from kicks to punches, sugar?" Tiffany grinned at Angel.

At the mention of Reika, Tiffany shook her head.
"Yeah...I think you left before that whole situation got out of hand." she remarked to both Carmen and Ace. "I don't know if she's mental or what, but she just starts talking shit, and throws a drink into Angel's face. It was about then I decided to grab Angel and haul our asses out of there. Didn't want to spend the night in a Japanese drunk tank, gettin' eye groped."

Carmen frowned as she remembered Reika. They'd met, briefly, but that was enough for a lifetime as far as she concerned. People like her were one of the main reasons she's chosen Tension over Friction. Far fewer drama queens to deal with. And from the sound of things, it was good that Carmen left when she did, because she would've been sorely tempted to punch the little bitch square in the mouth if she'd seen her diss Angel like that.

She decided to focus on something a little more positive, not wanting to let Reika ruin their night without even being around. "The training wasn't one-sided, vaquera." She turned to Tiffany and sized her up a little. Nothing to serious. Just taking notes. "Angel really helped me round out my throwing and submission game, too. I've got a lot more toys to play with in the ring, these days."

"Wow...she did all that huh? Kinda glad I stumbled out of there...though I was so drunk I finally woke up two islands over...I have no idea how I pulled that off on foot."


Indeed Ace didn't know, and while she had indeed quite a grand and strange adventure that day, it was a tale for another time, when the dragon warlock would return for his revenge and the AFW girls would band together to save the multiverse...

But for now, she just took another drink and blushed brightly at the sight of Angel's bikini, finding it inappropriate to stare, but unable to really look away.

Angel waited for Adrian to pour her drink, then gladly took it from the girl, taking a long sip as she listened to the others chatting. She looked thoughtful, as if something was on her mind, and when a break in their conversation came up, she finally spoke up again.

"Hey...not to ruin the mood or anything, but is it alright if I say something before this party really gets started? Just a little something to want to get off my chest, you know? It's nothing bad or anything."

"Oh did she, now?" Tiffany raised an eyebrow at Carmen's declaration. "Well, Angel certainly has a top notch submission game. You'd be hard pressed to find a better teacher. I might have to climb in a ring with you sometime. I hear you pack a hell of a punch."

Taking another drink from her glass, she listened to Ace and raised an eyebrow.
"Shit, girl, that's some trip." Tiffany shook her head. "Betcha there was probably a hell of a story behind it."

Turning her attention back to the birthday girl, the Texan noticed her pensive appearing face and frowned. If Angel was feeling bad and down about something, that was exactly what the cowgirl was trying to prevent. When the Latina spoke, Tiffany raised an eyebrow.

"Sure, what's on your mind?" she asked.

Carmen was sorely tempted to take that offer up. She didn't usually do matches with women, but there weren't too many women like Tiffany on the Friction roster. Big, strong, experienced, fiery, and fun - this was a person she could trust enough for it, she felt. And she seemed to recall her having a brother, too. That gave her a few ideas.

"Talk to me after the party. Might have something for you." She flashed the cowgirl a knowing smile, then focused back on Angel, intent to hear what her fellow Latina had to say.

Valley moved over to Haley's side and gave her little nudge, loving the blush on her face. It was amazing how cute she could be without even trying. "See something you like?" She whispered, keeping it between them while Angel prepared to speak.

Ace blushed slightly redder at Valley's teasing, sheepishly rubbing the back of her head in response and saying nothing, though she kept her ears open to listen to whatever Angel had to say.

Adrian poured out the pink nectar for Angel, not quite sure how she got stuck with bar duty while she waited for the Latina to say something. "Go ahead man, it's probably not gonna be that much of a mood killer." The brunette said, tempting all the fates.

Angel took her glass from Adrian and took a big, long drink from it, stepping towards the bar as she did so. She turned to face the other five women and leaned back against the counter, staring down at the pink stuff in her glass as she began to talk.

"Let's face the elephant in the room, I guess," she started, suddenly feeling very small and very sheepish. She wasn't even sure why. She could hype up an entire sold-out crowd in the AFW arena, but dealing with a small, personal group like this felt unsettling to her. "I got my ass kicked at Avalanche. I got my ass kicked hard." She took another drink from her glass, unsure of how exactly to continue but wanting to get her troubles and thoughts off of her chest. "I had my ass handed to me on a plate and I lost everything."

The Latina shook her head as she continued. "Not really, but that's how it felt, you know? Fuck. I've never had a loss that crushing before. I mean, I knew I'd lose the title one day, but...fuck, not like that. I was pretty fucking torn up about things." She looked up, stealing a glance at Ace, then looked back down towards her glass, swirling around the drink inside. "And that's why I ran away, I guess. Yeah, I wanted to go back home and see my family again, but...fuck. There was part of me that didn't want to come back. What's the point, you know?"

She raised her drink, Angel draining the liquid inside then setting the empty glass down on the counter beside her, gesturing towards Adrian for another refill. "I mean, what's left for me? There no way that bitch Lukretia is ever going to let me get another shot at the title, and fuck getting caught up in the middle of the gang war that Taylor and Kelly are having right now anyway. I've hit the top, and there's nowhere left for me to go."

A sigh escaped Angel's lips, as she shook her head again, folding her arms over her ample chest, the former champion staring down at the floor. She felt small, so very small, but it felt good to finally let out her feelings. "I wanted to stay in Mexico, I really did. What else is there for me to do in the AFW?" She looked up the other women again, and gave them a slow shrug, her bare shoulders rising upwards and dropping back down again. "That's how I felt, anyway, like I had nowhere to go and like I was totally alone. I've always felt alone in this damn company. Everyone else has their little cliques and their little groups, and I've always been out there by myself doing things on my own."

"But..." She paused for a moment before she continued, trying to find the right words to say, the right way to say them. "I had a lot of time to think while I was back home. I tried to do the whole 'lie around the house feeling sorry for myself' thing, but Mama Angel kept chasing me out whenever I tried." She laughed a little bit, the sound soft and quiet, before she continued on. "So I had a lot of time to wander around. A lot of time to think about things."

Angel glanced around the room again, looking at the other five women one by one, a sheepish smile creeping onto her face. "I've been a little selfish, I think. My entire career, I've always been about me me me, and haven't thought about the few good people I do know around here. I'm not alone at all. I haven't been alone for a long time." She looked towards Tiffany, and gave her a grin. "I've had your blonde ass with me almost from the start, chica." She flashed her a wink, and wisely decided not to mention the time that Tiffany vanished on everyone.

She then looked towards Ace, and Adrian, and Carmen, and smiled at them. "As for you three, we haven't really friends for that long, but...I still continue you three part of my little family here. And you..." she looked towards Valley, grinning at her. "We should probably get to know each other better too. Any friend of Ace's is a friend of mine, you know?"

Angel looked over the other women again, and finally relaxed a little, her smile turning more genuine again. "So...yeah. My whole point is, I guess, that I want to be there for you guys. I've been at the top, and it feels damn good, but my time in the spotlight is over. I want to help you all get up there too, you know? We need more awesome girls like you all in the main event, and not like all the bitches we've had up there for the past couple years. So...you guys let me know if I can do anything for you all? I've got all of your backs." She grinned a little more, and gave the party-goers another wink. "You guys are my family. Mi Familia. Family looks out for each other."

"And...thanks. Thanks for showing up tonight. It really does mean a lot to me to see all of you here throwing this party for me."