Post by gvb on Dec 18, 2020 19:05:44 GMT -6
1x10 Trivium
The Hallway
December 16, 2020
8:12 AM
Wednesday morning, and the students are ready for their morning classes. Trinity Thompson is walking down the hallway, her purple hair dressed in a half-up ponytail and adorned by a black ribbon. Her face is lightened up with enthusiasm, that wide smile of her plastered on her face as she waves her hand to Paul the janitor. The airpods in her ears are blasting out some rock music so loud to cover Mille’s voice calling her name. The blonde girl calls her once again, but the result remains the same. Winning her characteristic shyness, Millie quickens her pace to catch up to the other half of Team Trillie, lightly tapping on her shoulder.
Trinity Thompson:
Oh.. Hey Millie!
She smiles as she turns around and sees her partner. Trin removes the airpods, for a few moments the music keeps blaring out of them until she reaches for her phone and puts the song on pause.
Trinity Thompson:
I’m sorry, I was listening to this song… It really sets me up for the day!
Trin is visibly excited, that can’t be for just listening to the song, can it? A quick look at her outfit would give away what the real reason is. Under the hoodie, intentionally left open, she’s wearing a Tiff Rollins “Five Foot Death Machine” shirt. And with the news reported on Monday that the longest reigning Cloud Gate champion will join the Academy today, there’s no doubt that’s the reason for her excitement.
Millie Smith:
I could tell!
Millie doesn’t shout, but says with a tone that was meant to show she was kidding. She wore a long sleeve red and black checkered shirt which was buttoned all the way up, with her silver Stitch necklace bouncing with each step off her. She wore a pair of black leggings, stretchy but good quality. Millie then noticed the shirt design.
Millie Smith:
It’s interesting having Tiff here…..
Millie says, ending with a tone of worry considering Tiff’s history with one of her family members.
Millie Smith:
Do you think she’ll be watching us in the physical classes?
And Millie’s eyes widened slightly, ever so clearly screaming Eep mentally.
Trinity Thompson:
Oh… I don’t know, I guess there’s a chance she’ll train with us sometimes.. Which is so cool!
Trinity replies to her teamie, unable to hide her excitement at the possibility to work with the former Cloud Gate champion.
Trinity Thompson:
She was.. Well, she is… And she will be my favorite wrestler once she’ll get back in the ring. I watched all her matches, she was so talented.. I can’t believe she’s going to be here with us, I might ask her to sign me an autograph when she finally arrives later today. And a selfie too! Oh…
She lets out a chuckle, scratching her head.
Trinity Thompson:
After I welcome her and ask her for some advice of course.. I don’t want to look like a fangirl or anything… Hehe..
Millie Smith:
Maybe you’ll get the chance to team with her one day, or #Tillie will, you definitely,
She gives her a reassuring smile there’s nothing wrong with being nervous around a hero in the ring.
Millie Smith:
Rian is around?
Trinity raises an eyebrow to Millie.
Trinity Thompson:
I guess he’ll come to class, he’s probably still having breakfast, or worse… He may be sleeping still!
Thompson chuckles lightly.
Trinity Thompson:
I really don’t know where he is. Why did you ask me by the way? I’m not his secretary or anything!
Her tone was, of course, jokingly.
Millie Smith:
He’s new too, to our team as well. You two did good work keeping the titles. I hope I don’t end up being double teamed for the show….eep…
She mutters out a nervous one at the end and stops to get her water bottle out of her bag.
Millie Smith:
I was your partner first.
Millie jokes back to Trinity, showing she was at ease to make those sort of jokes rather than stay silent because she was fifth-guessing herself.
Trinity Thompson:
Haha, don’t worry, there will be no double-teaming.
She reassures her partner with a soft smile and a hand on the shoulder.
Trinity Thompson:
It’s a big match but it’s everyone for themselves this Friday. Rian is a cool and funny guy, you’re my friend and Team Trillie is forever… But you can bet Friday night I’ll do my best to win that match and earn a chance to fight for a number one contender spot.
Trinity looks straight in Millie’s eyes.
Trinity Thompson:
And I expect the same from you.
Millie takes a moment to think. Almost living out her match with Tiana in her mind to the painful end when she had to give up and looks at the ankle.
Millie Smith:
Do you think I could be the number one contender?
She says, with a little doubt she tries to pass off as curiosity. Millie then tries to meet Trinity’s gaze with her own, brown eyes but they do dip suggesting she was a little shaken after her first match with Tiana.
Trinity Thompson:
You already were last week…
Trinity replies smiling at her friend.
Trinity Thompson:
I faced Tiana as well with the title on the line on episode two, I know how it is to be in the ring with her… And you did SO MUCH better than me!
You could tell that she was meaning every word.
Trinity Thompson:
She has beaten everyone here, she’s been Gold Star for two months.. But you took her to the limit, and you’re the only one who pinned her in our tag match. You have everything you need to be not only a contender, but a champion too.
Millie Smith:
That’s a big change from Rookie Millie to Gold Star Millie…
She then takes in a big breath, smiles, and lets it out. Taking in the complement and the take of her teamie while letting out the self-doubt and lets her shoulders drop to try and relax.
Millie Smith:
I am definitely…
Millie lowers her tone a little to try and confide it exclusively with Trinity.
Millie Smith:
...here to be champion, like we all are. You’re right.
Millie shakes her head as if she’s shaking off the last loose hairs of doubt and worry off her.
Millie Smith:
I did do that. I can do that again and be like you and Rian will be out there, title-hungry.
Trinity Thompson:
That’s what I like to hear!
Trinity pats Millie on the shoulder.
Trinity Thompson:
Speaking of Rian there he is!
From the opposite side of the hallway Ellis walks in their direction.
Trinity Thompson:
If he’s here, that means we’re running late for class… Come on, Millie. Let’s go!
Millie Smith:
Eep!
Millie says as she’s dragged by sleeve to rush towards their next class together.
The Promo Class
December 17, 2020
9:44 AM
The news broke out earlier this week. Tiff Rollins, the former Cloud Gate champion, has joined the Academy.
Resurfacing for the first time since the beginning of February, this was her first appearance in MWE since that attack at the hands of Devin Hearst. Although it's been established that she will not be competing on the show or joining any team, she has joined the facility to train alongside the students in the hope of getting back in ring shape. As a former champion however, surely she would have been able to skip the Academy and head straight back up to the top of the card, right? Well, that's why Tiff is here today...
Sitting alone in front of a camera, the former Five Foot Murder Machine began her initiation...
Tiff:
Hi. Tiff here. Not Rollins...not Tompkins...just Tiff.
The lack of confidence is crystal clear. Although she's trying her best not to show it, she is very awkward and uncomfortable. After all, she's been out of the business for so long, does she even have what it takes anymore?
Tiff:
As you can tell, I'm here at the Academy. I know it ain't exactly the comeback that anyone expected, but trust me, there was a point when the comeback wasn't even in the works. Now I know what everyone is thinking. Ain't you a former Cloud Gate champion? Not only that, but ain't you also the youngest and the longest reigning champion in all of MWE? Shouldn't you be going back on Millennium or something? Why did you join the Academy? Well, here's the thing...
A brief pause as Tiff took a deep breath. She was about to expose herself after all...
Tiff:
I don't wanna go back. Not back to how things were. Sure, I was a fighting champion, but at the same time, I turned into a monster. I attacked my own family. I threw my loved ones into harm's way. I was so desperate to do whatever it took to hold onto that title that I ended up turning my back on friends, my fans, even my own flesh and blood. I hated what I became, but in just two nights, everything that I built, everything that I fought for...it was all gone. Just like that.
She clicked her fingers.
Tiff:
I lost more than just my title. I lost my passion, my confidence, my motivation, my pride...everything. There was no one I could turn to, and I only had myself to blame. There was nothing worth fighting for anymore, so what was the point? I just quit, and while the whole world carried on without me, I just got fat and lazy. I gave up on my diet, I stopped going to the gym, I couldn't even be bothered to leave the house. I gained over thirty pounds, but quite frankly, I didn't care what I did to my body...as long as I could stay in that comfort zone...
This was the most embarrassing confession Tiff has ever made in public, and as she stared at the floor for a moment, it was obviously hard for her to admit it.
Tiff:
It's so hard to think that, in the same year, I went from the top of the world to the bottom of the barrel. But it happened. I can't hide it, I can't deny it, this has been the worst year of my life, and quite frankly, I was ready to embrace it. I can't express this enough; I was done. I had no intention of getting back in the ring. None whatsoever. I'm not one of these wrestlers who comes back from a year long injury to immediately win a title. No, I stopped caring about training, I stopped caring about my health, and I stopped caring about wrestling.
The frustration was visible behind the glasses on her face.
Tiff:
I didn't wanna go back...but the thing is...no matter what I did outside of wrestling...I couldn't muster the same passion I had for wrestling. Oh sure, I've tried other things. Cheap shout out to my channel Tiffasaurus by the way...
She breaks character just to give a cheeky wink to the camera, only to fall right back into her emotional rant.
Tiff:
...but there was always something missing. Something forbidden...something I did not wanna admit. But then I guess one thing led to another...and now I'm sitting here in front of you, telling you how miserable I've been.
At that moment, she took her glasses off to wipe the budding tears from her eyes. This was not the same Tiff that everyone remembers. No longer hard or reserved, she was wearing her emotions on her sleeve.
Tiff:
I don't know how to thank everyone who supported me...for not losing faith in me. I wanna thank Asher. Without you taking my doughy ass back to the gym, I'd probably still be at home stuffing my face with potato chips. Thank you so much, I love you.
She blew a kiss to the camera, albeit an tear-soaked one...
Tiff:
I wanna thank Andreas. He's the one who suggested I make the call to Gian and accept this offer to join the Academy. He was there when I first trained to be a wrestler, and I hope I can make him proud the second time around. Of course Gian, thank you for this opportunity. I know there's probably someone out there more deserving of this spot, but I promise not to let it go to waste. I also wanna thank my parents. Brytain and Syn. Thank you for putting up with my dumb ass for all this time...I miss you and I promise to see you whenever I can. Also Lucie and Sky, I know I've been a terrible friend to you both, but you have no idea how much you really mean to me, and I thank you for helping me get through the worst time of my life...
She finally took a few moments to wipe her now tear-covered face before putting her glasses back on and regaining her composure.
Tiff:
I'm sorry. It's just...this isn't exactly how I expected to end the year. Not exactly the best of initiations I guess...
She let out an awkward chuckle.
Tiff:
Still...I think this is the right place to be. I know a lot of people are looking at this like I've got an advantage over the other students, but quite honestly, I think it's the opposite. When you completely abandon something, you forget a lot of things about it, and when you go through as many changes as I have, not everything will come back as naturally. I haven't even thrown a punch since quitting, let alone a Death Kick. I ain't even at my target weight yet. And now I'm sharing a facility with a group of students, who are all now fighting for spots on the next supershow. Doesn't exactly help being the shortest one here. I might as well be the new girl around here...
She took a moment to look around, almost as if she's looking behind her back...
Tiff:
Gian thinks me being here is a mutual benefit. Having access to such an awesome facility, being around students who are just as hungry as when I first started training. In exchange for training myself back up to form, he thinks I can pass on some guidance. I don't know what guidance I could possibly offer, but if anyone here does need any help, I'll be more than happy to, as long as they let me do my own thing. If there's one thing I do remember though, back when I first started at least, everyone wanted to use each other as a stepping stone, and as the longest reigning champion in MWE, I know I probably have a target on my back right now. That's why, if I wanna survive in a place like this, I'll have to train harder than ever, even just to catch up with them...
She took another moment to look around again before letting her guard down again.
Tiff:
You know...I'm glad I got to stop by before the Christmas break. Being here gives me a real sense of what to expect when I come back in the new year. This facility is definitely a lot better than what I was expecting. Reminds me of some kind of campus. Hopefully I'll actually reach my target weight before I come back here, so that I can really get back into the grind. The last time I even came close to a wrestling ring...well...I lost everything. I'll be lying if I told you that I wasn't nervous...
Another deep breath later...
Tiff:
When I quit wrestling, I wanted to quit for good. I didn't wanna go anywhere near the kind of person I turned into. But the truth is, as much as I wanna hate it, I've always loved it. Without it, my life was incomplete. I just need to learn to control it. That's the ultimate goal here. I wanna get back into wrestling, but I don't wanna go back to the monster I was. I don't want any advantages, I don't wanna make things personal. I just want a fresh new start. A chance to start again. A chance to move away from my old self. A chance to become something new. Something different. Something that can make you proud. Something that make me...happy...again...
With that realization, Tiff pondered to herself for a moment. This was real. This was happening. This was her second life.
Tiff:
See you around guys...
And with that, Tiff reached towards the camera to switch it off, leaving behind the final image of a slight smirk of confidence; the first glimpse of confidence on her face in a very long time.
The Classroom
December 17, 2020
12:01 PM
The scene opens in an empty classroom. Not completely empty. Sitting on top of a teacher's desk with a chalkboard serving as a backdrop is Faizah Marshall, better known as The Original B.A.E. Her legs are crossed as she stares into the camera.
Faizah Marshall:
Talking to Olly last week forced me to open my eyes. One thing that became apparent was... it has taken ten shows for me to have a standard match where I get to showcase what I can do without a tag partner.
Makes me wonder. Did the Academy believe I wasn’t ready for singles action?
Was it really my desire to stay out of trouble that brought me to this point?
Does the Academy think that low of me? Would I be in a tag team match this week if Olly, Faith, Tiana and Dez weren’t given the spotlight at Coup De Grace?
Faizah lets out a huge sigh.
Faizah Marshall:
So many questions. Will I get all the answers? I don’t know. BUT I know one thing for certain, I am in the main event of Trivium against a guy who wanted to see me get traded to Team Ali and the new girl who I barely even know. The Kid and Cash appear friendly. For all I know this could be a two on one handicap match until the eventual reality dawns on both of them, that this is every person for themselves.
Cash. No issues with you but... you haven’t been here long enough for a cup of coffee. The thought of you moving one step closer to a gold star match does not set right with me.
And The Kid? I haven’t forgotten how much of a jerk you were to me weeks ago on Twitter. Not cool. We’re on the same team. Team in name only.
Lucky for me, this isn’t about Team Stryke. It’s all about me, the Original B.A.E. It is about time I become the star I was born to be. I refuse to take a backseat anymore.
Oh... and GO OLLY!!
Faizah smiles brightly as the scene fades to black.
The Academy Rooftop
December 18, 2020
3:15 PM
It's snowing outside The Academy in Chicago, Illinois and on the roof top in the blistering cold and snow is The Most Valuable Player Dez Ali (wearing a black hoodie with white MVP text printed on the front, faded blue Levi's jeans and black & white Under Armour sneakers and sporting a black Boston Red Sox snap back hat backwards and black UA gloves covering his fingers from the cold), the twenty year old stud who will finally come face to face, one on one with his teammate Olivier Kennedy in an "I Quit" Match with huge implications for not just two students of The Academy involved, but for both teams, thanks to the stipulations selected but Olly. This one on one match on night two of Coup De Grace has been a long time coming. With what the two placed each other through over the past month, there was no way around this match which pits two teammates from Team Ali against each other. History, hatred and the hell, Dez and Olly have put each other through from bloody injuries, to broken noses and verbal attacks, it's fitting the year ends with the MVP and Olly facing each other in a match that can't be stopped unless the one of the competitors say "I Quit". The consequences? The loser leaves Team Ali.
Dez Ali:
Sup Olly? So this is not usually done in The Academy, but the way things have gone since the first day here in The Academy, clearly nothing is done the usual way. I mean look at we're we are today. Episode ten, and who would have thought from the premiere episode you and I would be set to compete in a match where the quitter, not just the quit the match, but quit Team Ali. A team my dad is Team Leader and drafted me, not you as the number one student. We've come a long way and a lot didn't go as planned. I mean after all in reality, we're paving the ground for future students of this Academy. We're the trend setters.
A high gust picks up and quickly dies down as The MVP looks up to the sky and then brings back his focus to the camera.
Dez Ali:
So I am going to get straight to the point, because it's really cold out here. But it's going to be an even colder day for you, when I stop you in your tracks and make say the two most infamous words in any wrestler's career. You see Olly, you said I don't have any say. Because you masterfully select a match with rules attached that protect your ass in the event you lose. What happened? Don't you trust your own ability to overcome The MVP? You clearly don't, be wise your playing it safe. While some say it's genius, I say it's a cowardly act. Who cares right? I still don't have a say, like you said.
Dez smiles, touches his chin and looks around. He gets close to the camera as if he is about to tell a secret.
Dez Ali:
Here's a little secret. I do have a say. You see Olly, you've made sure you control every aspect of this match. Expect one.
He smiles and walks pass the camera as the camera turns it focus on Dez Ali standing next to Santa Clause.
Dez Ali:
He's not real. Sure you create this wish list, just before Christmas, but Santa Clause ain't real. What is real, is you MVP standing here in the blistering cold. What's real is on December 20th, I control your destiny. You see Olly? I realize, all I need to do to destroy your career, is make you say the words that you can never make me say. Not only quitting to the hurt and pain I bring to you will affect you, but the fact that I make you utter those two words, it's going to haunt and torment you fifty years from now, when you're retired telling your grand kids, all about your first pay-per-view match. I am The Most Valuable Player of Team Ali and you're not going to interrupt that. But what will be interrupted is you time on my team, Team Ali.
A peeping sound is heard as Dez looks at his watch.
Dez Ali:
I'm on top of The Academy......
The twenty year old Ali spreads his arms out wide.
Dez Ali:
No one, not you, not your crazy ass girl friend Faith, not the Gold Star, not the Principal, not the Team Leaders, nobody is going to change this.
His watch keeps beeping.
Dez Ali:
Tick tock Olly, time's up.
He smirks and walks off placing the hoodie over his snap back hat, as the beeping continues and the snowfall and winds picks up.
Triple Threat Match
Millie Smith VS Trinity Thompson VS Rian Ellis
WINNER: Millie Smith BY: Pinfall (Codebreaker), 13:28 |
Triple Threat Match
The Kid VS Faizah Marshall VS Cash Blye
WINNER: Faizah Marshall BY: Pinfall (Inside Cradle), 12:04 |