Post by jbgarnerwrites on Jun 11, 2020 14:14:55 GMT
Alejandra Alicea had been hopeful, beyond hopeful, as the time for the Spring Break PPV loomed closer, and when she’d gotten the message for a meeting with Bethan Christian, the commissioner of FAWN, it had been hard to contain herself. Somehow, she managed, but now, with that meeting over, the fit Puerto Rican doesn’t have a reason to do so. In fact, she is so filled with excitement, all thoughts of calmly grabbing an Uber to go back to her Orlando apartment blows out of her mind. She changes into some workout gear in the locker room, sports bra, tights, and sneakers, throws everything else into her duffel, and hits the streets.
The only way she’s going to get this almost explosive excitement out of her system is through some exercise, and a jog home will fit the bill. Her smartphone tucked into an armband, Bluetooth headset in her ears, thrumming Caribbean rock beats slamming in her ears, Alejandra gets into a rhythm fast, a smile on her face as the city flies by around her. After a couple of blocks, she has burned off enough energy to actually think, to talk, and so, as she turns a corner in the busy city, Alejandra taps at her phone, pausing the music.
“Call Ma,” she says aloud without breaking stride, and a moment later, her phone was ringing in her ears, followed by one of the sounds in the world that always made her smile.
“Alejandra!” Maria Alicea chirped over the line. “You should have called sooner! It’s been a week!” Past her mother’s familiar voice, Alejandra hears the mouthwatering sounds of sizzling meat and boiling water.
“Aww, Ma,” the Spitfire says contritely. “I knew you’d be busy, and even now, it sounds like you’re cooking. I’ve got some exciting news, but it can wait until--”
“Oh no!” The warning of doom in her mother’s voice kept Alejandra glued to the line as she jogs. “You know I can cook lunch for your brothers and talk on the phone at the same time. Especially when there’s exciting news to tell.” She clicks her tongue as the sounds of dicing echo over the line. “So what is it, my dear? Are you making an honest woman out of that pretty Japanese girl you kissed on TV?”
“Ma!” The Latina beauty blushes a bit, not out of any shame for her close relationship with the woman known to her as Miko but to the world as J!nxx, but because that’s just the power mothers have over their daughters. “That’s not it, but--”
“Well, you should make that a top priority,” Maria clucks. “You two really seemed to click, and having a tough little thing backing you up out there after… well, you know…” Her voice trails off a little, and Alejandra already knows where her mother’s thoughts were going, namely the beatdown Taffy Black gave the Spitfire in her debut FAWN match. “Anyway, yes. I told you to find someone, to make friends, and I’m glad you listened to your ma.”
Alejandra knows not to continue this little discussion. She *is* quite happy with the friends she’s made so far in FAWN, and she is especially happy for the wrinkle of fate that wove Miko and her together, but still… when it came to the ring, she didn’t *need* anyone to fight her battles. She could stand on her own.
No, she needed to stand on her own, to prove herself to… Well, that was always the thing, wasn’t it? Who is she doing this for?
She would think about that later. She is too excited for this kind of introspection right now.
“Of course, Ma,” Alejandra says with a smile, slipping past a congested coffee shop and turning heads as she goes. Best to placate her mother so she could get to the really great news. “Jinx and I are seeing each other, so yes, I listened… but that isn’t what the big news is!”
Maria’s laughter only makes the Latina’s smile brighten. “I should have known. So, what is it? I could guess what it’s about, knowing my little star, but I don’t want to take the wind out of your sails.”
No doubt her mother did know exactly what Alejandra was calling about. That was Ma’s power, after all, to know exactly what her daughter was thinking at any particular moment, even when they were separated by so much water. Still, just getting ready to say it aloud brings all the nervous excitement back up in the rookie’s muscular body.
“I had a meeting with the commissioner today,” Alejandra says, her words speeding up as that energy gets to her brain and her mouth. “FAWN’s putting me on the pay per view, Ma! I’m going to be on international television, wrestling a real match!”
Maria’s whoop of joy almost deafens the Puerto Rican Spitfire, and for a second, she wonders if the other passers-by on the busy Orlando street also heard her as they seem to start themselves. That, though, is simply a trick of the eyes from the extra bounce in Alejandra’s step, feeding on her mother’s happiness. The next few moments on the other end are a rapid-fire patter of voices, Ma telling her brothers about the news followed by a chorus of cheers and well-wishes that clamber over each other in a competition to be heard.
That is the one constant of the Alicea family. In their own ways, each and every member strives to do their best, even if it is just a contest of cheering their sister on before what looks to be the biggest day of her career. Of course, what Alejandra is about to say isn’t going to land home with her mother, but it’s the more sobering and, to the prideful Latina, the more exciting part of the prospect.
“Thanks, everybody,” Alejandra calls over the line. “But the best part? Miss Christian booked me against Alia Saad.” While her family follows her career, they don’t follow the sport of wrestling like she does, so the expectant pause on the line was a question without saying a word. “She’s a returning veteran, Ma. Super successful!” Trying to be somewhat respectful despite what Alejandra has seen of the Jewel of Jordan, she lowers her voice as she adds, “Really kind of a puta, really stuck-up, but the fact that they want to put me against her for her return match says a lot about the faith they have in me!”
There was that pause, the pause that Alejandra knew all too well. It was the tempering of excitement and the blossoming of motherly concern, but it’s clear Maria tries to keep it under control. “Well, I don’t know who this Ms. Saad is, dear, but I know you’ll do me, your family, and that cute new girlfriend of yours proud.” Another brief pause. “But… be careful for once in your life, Alejandra, eh? Mean girls like that who claw their way to the top in this world, they’ll do anything to put someone like you down.”
Alejandra jogged in place at a bustling intersection, much to the delight of several fellow pedestrians, not that she noticed. “I’m always careful.” And that was mostly true. Alejandra isn’t purposefully careless. It’s just that… sometimes things get away from her in the heat of the moment. “Don’t worry. I won’t let you all down!”
“You never have, and you never will.” Ma’s words came out like a solemn promise. “Now, don’t let me keep you. Send me the details and everything when you can. Right now, what you should do is go find that girl of yours and celebrate!”
“Trust me, that’s exactly what I intend to do,” Alejandra says happily. “You take care and give everyone my love, Ma!”
With that, mother and daughter share their goodbyes, and as if Maria’s worlds could influence reality itself, the traffic lights flicked over, giving Alejandra free passage to cross the last street before getting to her apartment building. Despite the small, niggling concern of facing not only a storied veteran of FAWN but one that, by every tape Alejandra had watched, was a domineering, arrogant, imperious bitch that wouldn’t hesitate to break the rules and try to utterly humiliate her…
Okay, so maybe that shouldn’t be a ‘niggling concern.’ Still, as Alejandra looked up at her apartment building with an eager smile, she is filled with confidence that, if she faces this challenge head-on, she can not only win the match but also show FAWN, and the world, what a Boricua can do!
With that thought, she jogs into the building, eager to share the good news with J!nxx and anyone else she can find to listen.
The only way she’s going to get this almost explosive excitement out of her system is through some exercise, and a jog home will fit the bill. Her smartphone tucked into an armband, Bluetooth headset in her ears, thrumming Caribbean rock beats slamming in her ears, Alejandra gets into a rhythm fast, a smile on her face as the city flies by around her. After a couple of blocks, she has burned off enough energy to actually think, to talk, and so, as she turns a corner in the busy city, Alejandra taps at her phone, pausing the music.
“Call Ma,” she says aloud without breaking stride, and a moment later, her phone was ringing in her ears, followed by one of the sounds in the world that always made her smile.
“Alejandra!” Maria Alicea chirped over the line. “You should have called sooner! It’s been a week!” Past her mother’s familiar voice, Alejandra hears the mouthwatering sounds of sizzling meat and boiling water.
“Aww, Ma,” the Spitfire says contritely. “I knew you’d be busy, and even now, it sounds like you’re cooking. I’ve got some exciting news, but it can wait until--”
“Oh no!” The warning of doom in her mother’s voice kept Alejandra glued to the line as she jogs. “You know I can cook lunch for your brothers and talk on the phone at the same time. Especially when there’s exciting news to tell.” She clicks her tongue as the sounds of dicing echo over the line. “So what is it, my dear? Are you making an honest woman out of that pretty Japanese girl you kissed on TV?”
“Ma!” The Latina beauty blushes a bit, not out of any shame for her close relationship with the woman known to her as Miko but to the world as J!nxx, but because that’s just the power mothers have over their daughters. “That’s not it, but--”
“Well, you should make that a top priority,” Maria clucks. “You two really seemed to click, and having a tough little thing backing you up out there after… well, you know…” Her voice trails off a little, and Alejandra already knows where her mother’s thoughts were going, namely the beatdown Taffy Black gave the Spitfire in her debut FAWN match. “Anyway, yes. I told you to find someone, to make friends, and I’m glad you listened to your ma.”
Alejandra knows not to continue this little discussion. She *is* quite happy with the friends she’s made so far in FAWN, and she is especially happy for the wrinkle of fate that wove Miko and her together, but still… when it came to the ring, she didn’t *need* anyone to fight her battles. She could stand on her own.
No, she needed to stand on her own, to prove herself to… Well, that was always the thing, wasn’t it? Who is she doing this for?
She would think about that later. She is too excited for this kind of introspection right now.
“Of course, Ma,” Alejandra says with a smile, slipping past a congested coffee shop and turning heads as she goes. Best to placate her mother so she could get to the really great news. “Jinx and I are seeing each other, so yes, I listened… but that isn’t what the big news is!”
Maria’s laughter only makes the Latina’s smile brighten. “I should have known. So, what is it? I could guess what it’s about, knowing my little star, but I don’t want to take the wind out of your sails.”
No doubt her mother did know exactly what Alejandra was calling about. That was Ma’s power, after all, to know exactly what her daughter was thinking at any particular moment, even when they were separated by so much water. Still, just getting ready to say it aloud brings all the nervous excitement back up in the rookie’s muscular body.
“I had a meeting with the commissioner today,” Alejandra says, her words speeding up as that energy gets to her brain and her mouth. “FAWN’s putting me on the pay per view, Ma! I’m going to be on international television, wrestling a real match!”
Maria’s whoop of joy almost deafens the Puerto Rican Spitfire, and for a second, she wonders if the other passers-by on the busy Orlando street also heard her as they seem to start themselves. That, though, is simply a trick of the eyes from the extra bounce in Alejandra’s step, feeding on her mother’s happiness. The next few moments on the other end are a rapid-fire patter of voices, Ma telling her brothers about the news followed by a chorus of cheers and well-wishes that clamber over each other in a competition to be heard.
That is the one constant of the Alicea family. In their own ways, each and every member strives to do their best, even if it is just a contest of cheering their sister on before what looks to be the biggest day of her career. Of course, what Alejandra is about to say isn’t going to land home with her mother, but it’s the more sobering and, to the prideful Latina, the more exciting part of the prospect.
“Thanks, everybody,” Alejandra calls over the line. “But the best part? Miss Christian booked me against Alia Saad.” While her family follows her career, they don’t follow the sport of wrestling like she does, so the expectant pause on the line was a question without saying a word. “She’s a returning veteran, Ma. Super successful!” Trying to be somewhat respectful despite what Alejandra has seen of the Jewel of Jordan, she lowers her voice as she adds, “Really kind of a puta, really stuck-up, but the fact that they want to put me against her for her return match says a lot about the faith they have in me!”
There was that pause, the pause that Alejandra knew all too well. It was the tempering of excitement and the blossoming of motherly concern, but it’s clear Maria tries to keep it under control. “Well, I don’t know who this Ms. Saad is, dear, but I know you’ll do me, your family, and that cute new girlfriend of yours proud.” Another brief pause. “But… be careful for once in your life, Alejandra, eh? Mean girls like that who claw their way to the top in this world, they’ll do anything to put someone like you down.”
Alejandra jogged in place at a bustling intersection, much to the delight of several fellow pedestrians, not that she noticed. “I’m always careful.” And that was mostly true. Alejandra isn’t purposefully careless. It’s just that… sometimes things get away from her in the heat of the moment. “Don’t worry. I won’t let you all down!”
“You never have, and you never will.” Ma’s words came out like a solemn promise. “Now, don’t let me keep you. Send me the details and everything when you can. Right now, what you should do is go find that girl of yours and celebrate!”
“Trust me, that’s exactly what I intend to do,” Alejandra says happily. “You take care and give everyone my love, Ma!”
With that, mother and daughter share their goodbyes, and as if Maria’s worlds could influence reality itself, the traffic lights flicked over, giving Alejandra free passage to cross the last street before getting to her apartment building. Despite the small, niggling concern of facing not only a storied veteran of FAWN but one that, by every tape Alejandra had watched, was a domineering, arrogant, imperious bitch that wouldn’t hesitate to break the rules and try to utterly humiliate her…
Okay, so maybe that shouldn’t be a ‘niggling concern.’ Still, as Alejandra looked up at her apartment building with an eager smile, she is filled with confidence that, if she faces this challenge head-on, she can not only win the match but also show FAWN, and the world, what a Boricua can do!
With that thought, she jogs into the building, eager to share the good news with J!nxx and anyone else she can find to listen.