Entropy and Enemies and Sentimentality

[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTZPt9nNlRI:byul7ien]Taylor's new music started[/url:byul7ien] and she bounded onto the entrance ramp with energy to match, her new Entropy belt slung over one shoulder. She skipped to the front of the ramp and flashed the crowd a bright grin and a peace sign before throwing herself into a neat no-handed cartwheel and taking off toward the ring.

she wore her usual white and blue ring gear, short top, pleated miniskirt, and kickpads. Her bright blue hair was up in the usual pig tails, her long bangs pinned neatly to one side. She had a small ring in one eyebrow, a tiny stud in one nostril, and a little jewel adorning her belly button. She wore the "Kaze" bracelet Akashi had given her on one wrist and a wide leather one on the other. A black choker necklace wrapped around her neck and a red strip of cloth was tied around her right thigh, just above her knee.

She dove headfirst into the ring and took her place in the middle. She took a moment to soak up the cheers from the crowd, something she'd only recently got used to, before she raised a microphone to her lips.

"Hi!" She chirped and gave the crowd a huge, exaggerated wave. "Hey, I've just got some stuff to say, this'll only take a minute." She said. She hadn't really got the hang of playing to the crowd, at least verbally, but her energy and earnestness earned her points all the same.

"First, I just wanted to say congratulations to the new champ. You all witnessed history being made at Avalanche. Sarah Gatt won a match all by herself! I've personally never seen that happen before. Didn't know you had it in you, Sarah!"

Taylor looked down at the mat for a second. "Um, next I sort of have to apologize a little. Heather Sunderland and me ran into each other recently and talked some shit. I want to say, Heather, I'm sorry for bringing up Clyde like that. I didn't know what happened. I still don't, but I didn't know how bad it was, so, that was over the line and I'm sorry." She looked back up at the top of the entrance ramp, imagining that Heather was there. "That being said, man, we've had this pesky tag match in the works for like a year now. You can brag all you want, but someday you're going to have to back it up. We're gonna find out who the best tag team in AFW is, and don't think I'll take it easy on you because I feel sorry or anything. I'm not that nice." She grinned devilishly.

"So this belt on my shoulder might've tipped you guys off that I'm the new Entropy champ. I... had to look up what that word meant, and I think I get it... but, the next thing I've got to do is find some promising young up-and-comer to challenge, kick her ass, and send her back to the bottom of the pile. I think that's how this works. I thought long and hard about who to challenge, who I'd like to go up against, who really deserves it, and... I didn't really come up with anyone.

"So I'm challenging Lia Cross! I think she's still on the roster, she's the bunny girl with the fastest loss in AFW history. Currently she's like a security guard for the man or something. I know she wants a piece of me, so Lia, here's your shot! Name your terms, dude! That is... unless Adrian Kytes doesn't like that matchup. I think we've all figured out by now what contract she has for herself, but I really don't see her challenging me to a match any time soon... No, ambushing me and having her friend kick my ass is more her style."

She slowed down again, becoming almost thoughtful. "And... speaking of Natalia. Man, that match really made me think. I think I learned a lot. I got the better of it, yeah, but like, if you hadn't seen her go before don't take that as like, what she can do. She's a dangerous girl, man, and I'm pretty happy that she didn't get much of a chance to do her thing against me. Aside from choking me out in two seconds... heh.

"Here's the thing, Natalia." She said, speaking to Natalia, wherever she was. "I... was gonna call you or something, but no one has your phone number except, like, Adrian or whatever. I want to talk to you, dude. We gotta... I don't know. Me and Akashi are pretty tight, ya know, and we're pretty good at this stuff, and we both work really hard, and maybe... It'd be pretty cool if you wanted to come train with us sometime. Or something."

Taylor felt a flutter in her stomach and blushed a little. Did she actually just ask Natalia out on a play-date in front of the whole freaking crowd? She didn't stop to think about it.

"And, I guess the last thing is for you guys. I think I said it before when they gave me this thing, but I don't really remember what I said, so... I just wanted to say thanks. I didn't ever think that I'd actually have any of you guys behind me, and like... the support... It's like one of the best birthday presents I ever got. I don't think I'd be here, holding this, without you guys so thanks... for, uh... letting me into your heart." Oh, Jesus, that was every bit as lame as it sounded in her head. She put her hand up to her forehead and looked at the mat.

"Anyway, I'm not real good with computers and stuff, but I managed to start a Facebook and a Twitter account, so if you guys want to follow me there and read the stupid things that I have to say look for 'TaylorParkerAFW' on twitter and stuff... I didn't know what Twitter was until like, last week. But... I'm getting better at that stuff."

She put the mic down before she could say anything else she'd regret and gave the crowd another wave. She bounced energetically on the balls of her feet and sprinted to a turnbuckle and kicked off into a backflip. She struck a quick pose for the cameras, and then slid out of the ring and worked her way back up the ramp, taking time to co-mingle with the fans as she went.

While a show was going on, it was usually a good time to slip backstage in the Friction facility and make use of the gym. Fewer psychotic thugs sought fights then and Lia was more than happy to abuse her credentials to get wherever she wanted in the Friction facility whenever she wanted. Plus, Lia had a great reason. She needed to get back into fighting shape. Her run-ins with Josey, Valkoinen, her spars with Lukretia... the recent months at AFW had been humbling, to say the least, for Lia. She needed to be tougher and quicker than she ever was to compete here.

Lia had just set back and prepared to bench press when the TVs, showing a live feed of the show, blurted out that familiar shrill whiny voice: It was a Taylor promo. Taylor Parker. Lia grimaced, but she did not want to mess with the TVs. Taylor was utterly, spectacularly annoying, and had no reason to stop being so. Apparently she had won a belt or something recently. Lia had tried to avoid paying her much mind in the last couple of weeks. It did little to help; they kept running in to each other. The little asshole had no off switch. Lia could almost... maybe... kind sorta nearly relate to her in the vaguest of senses, which only made her obdurate assholery even more annoying.

Taking a deep breath, Lia hoisted the weight up and began to pump it up, and down, up...

"--ing Lia Cross."

The weight almost slipped from Lia's hands. She caught it just above her neck. "Hghgk WHAT?!" Lia shouted to the empty gym. Lia quickly slotted the bar and sat up. "She called me out? What? Seriously?!"

Lia had no idea what was going on, but within a minute she had thrown on her jacket and was charging down the halls of the facility, quickly hooking her tie around her neck and sliding her skirt over her workout shorts, hopping as she ran. "Did she really just call Lia Cross?" Lia asked a passing girl.

The girl nodded in a daze, "I have mace." She warned, frightened by Lia.

"Pepper spray," Lia corrected her by instinct as she continued running. Approaching the stage, Lia called out, "Quick, mic?!" A stage hand backstage tossed her one, "Thanks, champ." Pausing only a half second to catch her breath, not nearly enough, Lia stepped out down the ramp, a murmur ran through the crowd of shock...

As Lia just stopped a hair's breadth short of bumping into Taylor. "Eyah!" Lia yelped. Quickly, she recovered, bringing the mic to her mouth, "Okay, seriously?" Lia asked, pulling the mic away to pant safely, "Seriously?!" It had only really sunk in what Taylor had done. She staked the belt on a match with Lia. Lia's first thought was 'No way do I have the numbers for a title shot. What's she doing?' Taking one more breath, Lia seemed to recover a bit of her swagger, "Look, okay, if this is a prank and you got a bucket of tar or something up there, just tell me where to stand so we can get it over with."

Taylor was about halfway up the ramp, chatting it up with fans and slapping hands and laughing when Lia made her appearance. She looked up as the crowds attention was drawn up the ramp.

"Oh, jeez, what the-" Taylor spluttered and recoiled away from Lia out of surprise. She hadn't expected her to actually show up. But whatever, it didn't really matter.

"You..." She began, but didn't have a mic. It'd be rude to exclude the crowd. "Hold on a sec." She held up a finger to Lia and took off for the ring. She dove under the bottom rope and retrieved her microphone.

"Sure, this is a prank. It's sort of a two-for-one deal. I got you to run all the way down here from wherever the closest McDonalds is, and I get to rub it in Adrian's face that she doesn't have the guts to challenge me, even though any old nobody from the bottom of the pile will still show up to fight. And hi. You look just as out of shape and out of place as ever. How are things? Man, if you sweat that much just walking down to the ring, imagine how bad it'll be in a MATCH. Jeez. Can I stipulate that you have to wear extra extra anti-perspir...persper..ant. Shut up."

Taylor climbed through the ropes and sat down on the ring apron, letting her feet dangle. "Well while you're here, I just wanna say that while I don't really expect us to actually make it to the match without Adrian screwing it up somehow, if we DO, I'm really looking forward to whatever stupid match type you can dream up. Oh, in case you don't know, you get to pick the match type. That's the rules and stuff. Then we have the match. Man, I'll be honest, I was hoping you would be on your game and everything. Are you sick?"

Taylor was really trying to hold back and keep from spewing the usual volley of insulting sarcasm at Lia, but to talk no trash at all to her proved impossible. Lia was Taylor's conversational kryptonite, and she wasn't sure how to act in front of her anymore.

Lia had even less of an idea how to deal with Taylor. She was an annoying whiny punk, and Lia hated her, and Lia probably still could have just ignored the callout but... Here she was.

Lia nodded with a coy smile as Taylor trash talked her, "Oh, I'm juuust fine. But you're one to talk, Punky..." Lia paused, clicking her tongue, staring at Taylor as if thinking hard, "Right, you get the other nickname. Champ," Lia muttered, as if in obligation, but she quickly warmed up to it. "You're one to talk, Champ!" She gave the crowd a half second to mull it over, it seemed like the appropriate thing to call her. "All that time with the big bad ex-champ... the sumo one, not... whoever your friend was that you beat the other night... it sure seems to be rubbing off on you." Lia turned toward the audience, winking at the small pockets that seemed to remember her, "Aaaanyway, yeah, good prank and all. Always up for a prank, but, seriously? Adrian? Isn't that the girl from that match... you know... where you both practically tore each other apart? And you STILL haven't had enough of picking fights with her?" Lia turned back toward Taylor, "You're a little crazy, you know."

To the audience, Lia continued, "You all really should be a bit more careful around her," she cupped her hand around the mic as though she were sharing a secret, "She will pretty much start a fight with anyone, for absolutely no reason at all. Crrrraaazzzy." Lia nodded cutely, as if trying to goad the audience along in this 'secret.'

Lia turned back to Taylor, trying to hurry the conversation along as if Taylor had not heard what she just said, "Yeah, yeah, fight, fight. I mean, to be honest, I'd be surprised too. I'm not exactly on the number one contenders list but if you clearly have too many belts weighing you down, well," Lia shrugged, "I'll take it off your hands... If I have to. That's what friends do, ya know."

Lia put her finger to her chin as if in thought, then a wicked grin crossed her face. "W-w-wait, you said I get to pick the match type? Wow. What a... what an honor." Lia narrowed her eyes and brought the mic to her mouth as she spoke with a purpose, "Alright then... I... choose... heennntai..." Lia let the suggestion hang over the audience, knowing Taylor would balk. She would stare at Taylor with a smug grin, waiting for her to react, but the second she would say something, Lia would cut her off, "Oh, nah, nah. Just fucking with ya." Lia chuckled, "I wouldn't want your gross-ass privates anywhere near me. And giving you pleasure? Puke city. Eugh." Lia shuddered at the thought.

Taylor's eye twitched. The thought had crossed her mind that someone could throw them into a sex match, but that was as much as she had let herself think about it. Her scowl deepened with every passing second. She knew Lia was messing with her, she knew that, but...

She drew in a breath to yell at Lia, but she cut her off. She scowled again. "Man, I knew it was on your mind, anyway. I mean, I'm super hot, and you're super-dikey... it's only natural that you'd want to get your hands on me. Just pick a match, I don't care, they're all going to go the same way. I kick your ass, and you go back to babysitting."

If she was honest, Taylor was hoping that this match, if it came to that, would help them to figure out the weirdness and unpleasantness between them. After her match with Natalia, she had experienced what it was like to bond with someone she'd fought. Maybe she was just hoping Lia would...

Nope, Lia was a total dick. Screw her. She'd been nothing but a dick to her from the beginning. Taylor slid off the ring apron and began slowly pacing her way toward the bunny girl. "You talk a lot, man, and that means something coming from me." She said and stood immediately in front of Lia. "I remember that one time we fought in the park. You tried annoying me to death and weaseling your way through it. I can't help but wonder if you don't want to fight me. Are you scared?" She asked, and she wasn't smiling now.

Taylor's fuming over the hentai suggestion was adorable. She wanted to let it ride, to let Taylor REALLY work up a rage, but she just could not let it go. It did not feel right to let that sort of prank run longer than necessary... Lia immediately regretted the idea of showing restraint for Taylor's sake though. She rolled her eyes, "Oh, dream on, champ. I mean, seriously, look at you. Three piercings? And your outfit? Did you just look in your closet and shout, 'Eh, I'll just put everything I own on. It'll all fit together, right?' There is literally no way you could be a bigger try-hard. Rage against that machine. You'll show it one day!"

Lia DID talk a lot, and, to be honest, she was not all that hot on fighting Taylor. The idea of beating her face in was always tantalizing, but just as an idea. In general, Lia would rather just walk away from Taylor, but there are just some fights you do not walk away from.

Unfortunately, Lia had to admit that even if she beat Taylor, that still would not be enough to shut Taylor up. Lia did not flinch as Taylor approached her, though she did tense up. Their little scuffle in the park reminded Lia of the irritating fact of all this: Taylor was no joke. Lia's smile was icy, "Terrified." She hissed into the microphone, her voice and demeanor conveying the exact opposite of fear. Lia reached into her pocket and quickly produced a roll of mints, aiming to offer just enough of a jolt to hopefully get Taylor to flinch, but not enough to seem like she was deliberately fishing for it. "I think you need one of these."

Taylor tilted her head and gave Lia a look like she was totally ridiculous. She tensed, but didn't take Lia's bait, at least not noticeably. She looked her up and down. Up close, she remembered that Lia was bigger... She wasn't big herself, but she was built larger than Taylor. She wondered who was stronger. She was eager to test herself against her.

Without breaking eye contact, Taylor snapped a hand across with alarming speed and swatted the mints out of Lia's hand. They landed somewhere in the crowd. "Too funny." She said, itching to get into it right then and there. From a distance, she wasn't very committed to the idea of fighting Lia. Up close, it seemed like the best idea in the world.

"How about you name a match type so we can go hit the bar like old times. I'll buy your drinks this time." Taylor said sarcastically.

Adrian's name had only been mentioned once in passing but it was something that set the cosplayer off. She was pacing around backstage, trying to control herself. She could just show up and challenge Taylor but she knew that she didn't feel ready enough for it. Her excessive training schedule hadn't been going for a week yet and in her mind she'd need a lot more than that if she wanted to win and end that niggling doubt in her mind once and for all.

On the other hand she needed to get it out in the open that she wasn't going to take anything from her anymore. After a long time trying to gather her nerves in preparation, she slung her ICW/ICWA title belt over her shoulder and made her presence known the traditional way.

By having her [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbwdTtRHQAU:3puo2mg2]theme music[/url:3puo2mg2] play throughout the arena.

Making her way through the curtain and onto the ramp, microphone in one hand, title belt in the other she waited patiently for her music to finish before raising her mic to speak. Time to do what she was trained to do! Bullshit infront of a large crowd. "So what, I don't get an invite? Come on, I'm probably the least crazy person here right now, do you take all the people you want to strangle out for drinks or do you just have a rabbit fetish?"

It took Taylor a while to recognize the music, and even then she wasn't sure. When Adrian finally strolled out into view, she held her breath and unconsciously bent her knees and slid one foot back like she was expecting a fight right there. She clenched and unclenched her fist and white knuckled the microphone while Adrian spoke.

Finally, she took a deep breath and tried to relax. She didn't need to do all that to herself. If there was a fight she was ready for it, she didn't need to work herself up. She ignored Adrian's little barbs.

"Oh, hey Adrian. Been a little while." Not long enough. "Nice belt, man. Ya know, I'm from the tri-state area. I don't really remember you. You must've won that belt before my time, I guess. But I'm glad you're here, and now we can talk. Champ to champ."

Taylor straightened up. "I know you didn't come out here just to call me crazy. Can I do something for you? Do I maybe have something that you want? Um, should I be on the lookout for Natalia, or your giant goon or something? I mean, you can understand why I might be a little nervous about getting jumped from behind, right?"

Adrian steeled herself, trying not to gulp as she stared down. In hindsight she probably could have come up a better intro barb than what she did. Still it was nice to have one person think of her as a champ. Even if it was the high queen jerkface.

"Oh yeah, the all knowing Taylor, who can just tell I have crack team waiting to ambush her around every corner!" She said in a melodramatic voice before she seemingly snapping back to seriousness. "No. You don't have anything I want, and that's the point."

"I've done a lot of soul searching over the past couple months and I realized a couple of things. First and foremost since this is champ to champ stuff. That bel on your shoulder? Worthless compared to mine. I don't care how much anyone spent on it, the thing only just got made. That means prestige wise, it's barely above the tag team titles, and that's only because they get passed back and forth to eclipse without anyone throwing a punch. All it's had is one match, one match does not a title make."

"Next..." She took a deep breath before continuing "Nothing you say to me is going to make a difference to what I think or who I am." She said with a solid sense of determination. "For too long after our match I let what you said to me get in my head: you called me a psycho I start acting crazy. You called me fat: I starved myself for several months. But no more. That stuff, not gonna affect me any more, and that's all you've really got isn't it? Words. All you do is talk and talk, insulting everyone you come across! But that's it... that's all you really have that anyone could want, to shut you up. And frankly, I don't care about that anymore."

"What else have you got? Your title? I already beat the person you beat to won it defending my title. So congratulations! you're where I was 6 months ago. Rankings? I already outrank you. So it's not for a lack of guts me rushing out to demand a shot that I already have, to use whenever I want to on my terms. It's just you haven't given me a good enough reason for it."