Navigating the River Styx

(The following was done over IM)

Tai

Haley wandered the backstage area of the Friction Arena, looking for a specific room. The girl was sore, bruised, and with a black mark under one eye. Just a couple days prior, Haley had been involved in a short, yet brutal Tables match with River Styx, one that Ace had lost, after Styx spewed some horrid black Mist into her face, blinding and burning her eyes, which were still red and irritated.

It had been a horrid couple of days since. It took hours, and pouring a glass or two of milk into her eyes, before her eyes stopped burning, and her vision finally returned to normal, the girl having to stumble blindly around the Friction's arena's backstage area, terrified she may have lost her vision for good before it finally went back to normal. Between that and getting splinters pulled out of her back, it had not been a good day.

This war against WAR was too one-sided, and Haley was certain she knew just the person that could help turn things around for her, smiling as she found the dressing room door she was looking for and began knocking on it.


Kerflubble

Adrian wasn't in the best of shape. In her recklessness to get one over Kelly Conway she had wound up fighting the blonde villainess across the arena, through concession stands and the loading bay, including taking a big drop onto the roof of an inconviently parked minivan. Despite managing to keep the Hardcore Title around her waist, she was taking things slow up to Avalanche.

Whoever her opponent would be, the former cosplayer wanted to be healed up, and at that moment it included lying on her front with her back stinking of deep heat spray. Not particually pleasant in itself, but it was doing the job. So when she heard a knocking at the door she managed to get up and answer without feeling like she needed a walking stick. "Haley!" She cheered briefly before her smile dropped at the Canadians appearance "Uh... rough week?"


Tai

The first thing Haley noticed when the door opened was the familiar smell of deep heat/deep cooling spray. Icy Hot perhaps? Haley had applied it to herself, or had Valley Doll apply it to her, on more than one occasion in the past. Stuff worked wonders, but still marked its user with that unmistakable scent.

"Heh, yeah, you could say that. Tables match with River Styx...Black Mist to the eyes...blind..burning...splinters in my back...not a fun day...though you've had it rough yourself huh? I heard about that match you had with Kelly, after Taylor's temper tantrum-arson attempt. How you holding up?"

She asked with a smile. It was a pleasure to see Adrian, despite the reasons for it. The two hadn't interacted as much as Haley would have liked, but the couple times they had were fun.

Kerflubble

Adrian breathed a sigh of recognition. "River? Eeesch, been there done that." She said, waving Ace into the private locker room, being the champ had to have some perks after all. "But yeah, place goes up in flames. The Kraut gets shitcanned for it so I think I can be the hero and salvage a show outta nothing aaaaaand end up bouncing off a car." the brunette rattled off "Still won though." she added to the end as she pulled out a folding chair for her guest. "So what's up?"

Tai

Haley whistled, seeing the impressive locker room Adrian got to herself.

"Damn...not bad. It's better than the one Valley and I have to ourselves, and the higher ups made me pay quite a bit extra for it. Hell, I probably paid for half the new ring just to get it...and fuck, a CAR? Geez Adrian, your tough as hell for dealing with that and keeping that belt..."

With that, Haley smirked, taking a seat on a nearby chair. "In fact...it's exactly because your that tough, that I wanted to talk to you. I've been dealing with Styx and her crew for a bit now, and...its rough. The bitch is a tank, and her crew just keeps getting bigger and being cheating bitches and all...and now she's refused to get back in the ring with me again, and she has the crew to make that stick..."

Haley leaned forward, looking at Adrian. "You fought her, you've beaten her, you've dealt with her...I wanted to see if I could get some advice from you on how to deal with her."

Kerflubble

Adrian couldn't help but smile smugly and grasp for her title belt at Haley's complements "Ehh you know..." she mumbled in a failed attempt to remain humble. No-one would have penned her at the start of her career to take the sort of things she had and keep swinging, and keep winning through them. But as the Canadian continued her little explanation Adrian's smile faltered for a moment.

"Okay," she began. Taking a deep breath for what could be a long explanation. "The golden rule for dealing with Styxx is 'fuck the moral high ground in the middle of a fight'. I know you're not the sort of person to lurk in the shadows with a pipe and a mask but when dealing with the level of shitlord that River is, it's gotta be the total war or she ain't gonna get the message through. If she's buddying up with people then take 'em out. She's dangerous enough on her own, let alone with mini shitlords following her."

"I mean, yeah. It took me a couple a tries but she never got what she wanted because of me. And because of me being willing to be that extra level of bitch to the bald bitch that she can't really say that she's the hardcore division. Because if she was, she'd have *this*." Adrian said, holding the Hardcore Title in Hayley's line of sight before slapping it over her shoulder. An act she instantly regretted as the sting took its toll, Adrian grimacing as she gently placed the belt down instead.

Tai

Haley nodded, listening carefully to every word Adrian said, taking it all in. "Yeah, its a good thing you pulled it off...god knows what Styx would be like if she had that belt, she really wants to be seen as the biggest baddest, most hardcore bitch there is, and you stopped that...but...I just dunno if I can do that the way you did..."

Ace sighed, sitting back in her chair, looking at the Hardcore Belt before continuing, remembering events of the previous year. "Last summer...I was facing this woman, Amethyst. She was a grade A Psycho Bitch. She was stalking my girlfriend, attacking me multiple times, attacking my girlfriend and just...ugh. Psycho Circus Bitch. So I got pissed off and decided to challenge her to a match that would guarantee she'd leave us alone after I beat her...a Scaffold Match. First, and hopefully last, one AFW has ever done. I nearly lost, but at the end I threw her off...watched her fall...smash onto the entrance ramp below.

That... was my first pay per view win, what should have been a major moment... and I just stood there, my music playing, fans cheering, watching Amethyst being carted out on a stretcher, god knows how injured she was, how bad she was hurt...and all I could do was stand there, shaking...crying...realizing that her career, her well being...her future, all of that was at stake, all because of me. I heard she's shown up around now lately at least, but still...I couldn't believe I had actually done that to someone..."

She took a deep breath, remembering the sight of her opponent being carted off, looking small and helpless from 18 feet up. "So...I dunno. Being "a bigger bitch", and all that...I dunno if I can do that. I can wrestle, I can fight...but I don't think I can really like...go to that level, ya know? Fighting is one thing, but I just don't have it in me to intentionally seriously hurt someone like that. Not the way she does."

Kerflubble

Adrian sighed "Look... I'm not saying you gotta throw her off something high up or anything..." She said, stumbling for a way to make it sound better. "Just... she's tougher than she looks alright, if she even knew how to fight fair she'd be a bitch to deal with, and you've got to take chances when you get them. And that's kind of the problem now, she's not wanting to give you a chance to get at her, so you've got to do something to get her attention again. If a match is what you want, and not just her to fuck off, then you gotta make it seem to her like it's the path of least resistance. And that might include jumping her with a couple buddies. She doesn't want a war, she wants a raid. So give her a war."

Tai

Smart, smart. Stuff like this is why Adrian was considered one of the biggest and best stars in the history of AFW, and why she had earned such respect from the fans and her peers. "...You're right. You're right, I need to bring the fight to her, not just react to the bullshit she pulls. She's got her army, I need one of my own...I've got Alicia, but two just isn't enough, and I can't ask Valley Doll. I care too much about her, I'd be constantly worried about her being hurt, I wouldn't be able to focus. I need a real faction of my own..."

With that, she stood up, looking Adrian in the eye, and offering her hand out. "Listen. You've fought Styx, you've BEATEN Styx, you know how she thinks, you know how to fight her. I like you, I trust you, I could really use someone like you on my team. You'd be the perfect person to go to war with against WAR, and burn them to the ground!" She yelled, getting excited at the prospect of Ace and Adrian and Alicia, Team Triple A, all together.

Kerflubble

And this was where things started to get awkward. Here was Haley, all hyped up about an alliance between herself and Adrian, yet it was up to the Hardcore Champion to curb the Canadian's enthusiasm. "Ace... I'm... I'd get why you'd want me on your team, but it ain't happening." She said solemnly, looking Ace in the eye to let her know she was serious, and not just trying to deflect things. "I'm not exactly thrilled at fighting River or her buddies, but I would do it if I could."

"Part of the deal with the match in Mongolia was that it was gonna be the end between us for real. No matter what else happened, I can't *legally* fight River with you. Besides, there's not much I can really do to her now that I haven't already done." Adrian attempted to explain "Once you trap someone under a forklift in Mongolia, you can't really top it."

Tai

Haley's face fell, enthusiasm squashed, as the idea of Team Triple A was dashed against the rocks, Adrian explaining how she was legally unable to get back in the ring with River. After a minute of digesting things, Ace sighed, head down. Her extended hand went up and rubbed the back of her head awkwardly. "Well....shit....got my hopes up for a minute there. Well...oh well. I'll find someone else I guess. Um well...I'll get out of your hair then. Listen, thanks for the advice. I really do appreciate it. Styx and her gang really need to be stood up too and stopped. I can do it, I can, I just have to find a way to get her to face me in the ring again..."

Kerflubble

Adrian couldn't help but feel a wave of guilt rush over her as Ace went from brash to bashfull in a second. "Look... I'd help you more if you could, I can still help you plan stuff if you want... Alicia might not want it but it's there. I just can't be on the front lines, and I can't make her want to fight you fairly. If maybe you had something she wanted... but I don't really know if there is anything beyond being able to call herself queen of the shitpile." The champ said, trying to console Hayley, give her something to go on.

Tai


Haley shook her head, offering a smile and patting Adrian on the shoulder, gently. "Hey, its all good, really. I get it. You would if you could, but contracts and legal issues and all that. Nobody wants to fuck with AFW's legal team, ya know? Don't feel bad though. You've really helped me out a lot already. I can go in with a plan, I can get some allies, I can bring the fight to them, I just need to think of what I can do to get Styx interested is all....in fact, I better get going, talk stuff over with Alicia and all."

Rather than give Adrian a hug, which, given from the woman putting medication on her back, would probably hurt, Haley leaned in, giving her a brief peck on the cheek in gratitude before stepping back.

"...Oh, and before I go..." She said, stopping and picking up the Hardcore Title, admiring the classy look and shine of the belt, before handing it over to Adrian. "I know I didn't say this last year, and I should have, but seriously, kudos to you for winning this, and putting down that tank. I remember being in Mongolia last year, to support Valley, and watching your match from backstage. Styx was PISSED after they got that forklift off of her, throwing shit around, smashing mirrors, I heard she attacked a couple backstage workers and sent one to the hospital.

I dunno if its for the status, or to lord it over, or just so nobody else could have it, but Styx REALLY wanted this, and for you to handle her onslaught and keep this, and WIN...you really are one of the best, ya know? Respect!" She said, handing the belt back to Adrian.

Kerflubble

"Uh... thanks?" Adrian let out, wondering what Ace was thinking about as she handled the Hardcore title belt. "Guess it goes to show that she ain't unbeatable, you just have to think outside the box a little. And hell, you were worried about seriously hurting someone, right? Well, there's an example of how you can totally own someone like her without crippling her. So uh... good luck!" She said, taking the time to pat Silver Ace on the back as she stood up with a little stagger. "So... you got an idea? Or the start of one?"


Tai

Haley didn't respond, barely moving since Adrian took the belt back, slowly pulling her hand back, eyes lingering on the shiny shiny title... before snapping out of her brief daze, giving her head a little shake. "Wha? Oh...Oh yeah...I've got something...I uh...I gotta go. Gotta get moving...But yeah, I've...got an idea..." Haley stammered, appearing lost in thought as she raised her hand, briefly waving goodbye before heading out the door, leaving the locker room.



Kerflubble

Adrian was left alone and confused for a while, standing staring at the door as she tried to figure out what Ace's gameplan was. Maybe she'd talk more when she'd hammered out a few details, maybe she'd just keep the plans safe within her own head. Whatever she was planning, if it was against River, Adrian hoped that Ace was ready for anything.