The scene catches up in the locker room with Vincent and Victoria, seating backwards in a chair looking at the ground is Victoria, as her brother stands nearby trying to the the voice of reason, and keep his sisters spirits and mind in the right place, as she prepares for her, quite literally biggest challenge yet in Becca Wideline.
[Vincent] You gotta snap out of it Victoria, you’re better than this, your smarter than this. This feeling sorry for yourself act? It’s not becoming of you, and it’s not helping your career.
[Victoria] It’s not that easy Vince, I was so sure I had Thor. I knew I did, and now look at me, another loss, and a step further away from the title of Shogun, and now I have an absolute monster in front of me.
[Vincent] A monster who has yet to win a match, putting the two of you on more of an even playing field than you think.
Victoria looks up for the first time, her brothers words seeming to do at least a bit of uplifting to her mood.
[Victoria] Well, you do have a point there Vince, but she lost her first match because she tried to seriously injure Zolton, and last week she tapped out, so she’s probably going to be more angry in particular this week, looking to right her losses.
[Vincent] And are you not doing the same thing?
Victoria looks up at her brother now almost insulted, he looks back with intensity in his eyes.
[Vincent] You are the Lyoness! You are what holds our pride together, if YOU fall we all fall. Yeah, you’re right, Becca is probably going to come at you more vicious than we’ve seen her, but you have your own reasons to be just as ferocious, if not more. You can’t let her scare you like this.
[Victoria] You think I’m afraid of her?
[Vincent] I didn’t say….
[Victoria] Perhaps you should focus on your own match with Matsuda, and let me worry about mine.
[Vincent] Vicks….
Victoria stands up, kicking the chair aside and gets in her brothers face.
[Victoria] I’m not fucking afraid of any beast, I’m just aware of what she might be bringing, but SCARED? You know me better than that Vincent. I’m not afraid of anyone, and if you really believe me to be scared, than you don’t know me at all!
Vincent smiles, as Victoria gives him a classic death stare.
[Vincent] That’s the spirit I’m looking for. I know you’re not scared, I’m not stupid. I just had to wake you up somehow, you really think I believe you to be scared of someone who hangs around with Mike Mason?
Victoria stands there for a moment, still staring at her brother before sighing heavily, and taking a step back to lean against one of the lockers.
[Victoria] That guy’s a piece of work isn’t he? But I’m not worried about Mason, all I’m focused on is Becca. You’re right, we’re both looking for our first win here, and are going to throw everything we have against each other, she’s going to overpower me, that I already know, so I have to use my brains to out smart her.
[Vincent] We saw what she did to Zolton, so we know there’s potential anger issues there.
Victoria nods in agreement.
[Victoria] Well, yes. But I’d much prefer to get an actual victory, one that’s more decisive. If my hand is raised, it will be because I defeated her hands down in that ring.
[Vincent] Of course you do.
[Victoria] I can still do this, all I need is that first taste of victory and then. None of my opponents have gotten their victories with ease, and I won’t make it easy on Becca either. She can throw her weight and power around all she wants. She has to, because it’s all she has. It’s how she survives.
[Vincent] I honestly don’t think she’s as scary as she thinks she is either, I mean she’s already tapped out, not really becoming of some monstrous beast.
[Victoria] You’re not wrong, but I’ve been in the ring with Josh Kaine and can tell you first hand the guy is a fighter, and I think both Becca and myself underestimated him, it’s not a mistake I intend to keep making.
[Vincent] Yeah, I have my own eyes on Kaine as well, I can already see he’s going to be tough competition around here.
Victoria steps away from the locker, and sits back down. Vincent grans his bag, and slings it over his shoulder.
[Vincent] You gonna be alright? I have my own match preparations to make.
[Victoria] You eager to get back in there? It’s been a few weeks. You sure you’re not rusty?
Vincent gives his sister a stare, almost identical to the one she gave him when he suggested she might be afraid of Becca Wideline.
[Vincent] Rusty? Are you trying to say I’m a joke? I’ve been hearing enough of it from Havoc, I don’t need it from you.
Victoria smiles back, her brother still giving her his own death stare in return.
[Victoria] Just trying to wake you up a little.
She gives her brother a wink, he sighs heavily and calms own.
[Vincent] Very funny. But trust me, I’m not rusty, and I’m sick and tired of hearing it from Havoc. I’m tired of Havoc thinking I’m some sort of joke. We have to destroy him, we have to take everything from him. I’m tired of him facing himself some sort of god, or king or whatever the fuck. He’s just a man like the rest of us, a man named Christopher Sabertooth.
Victoria raises an eyebrow
[Victoria]...I’m a woman though.
[Vincent] You know what I mean.
[Victoria] Go ahead, and go. I’ll be okay here, Ace and I are going out later so he’ll be picking me up, you go get ready for Matsuda.
Vincent nods, and readjusts his bag before pushing open the door, and exiting the locker room, the camera swings back to Victoria, who gives it a smile.
[Victoria] Hello, Becca my dear. I don’t think we’ve been formally introduced. My name is Victoria Lyons, and I represent The Pridelands. I know, it’s sort of silly, but my brother represented Wakanda last year, it’s..just who we are. We like to keep things fun. The flag we choose to wave doesn’t define who we are in the ring however, how we present ourselves in the ring does, and while your skill is to be admired, I have to say there are a few things about you that sit with me the wrong way.
She pauses for a moment, holding up one finger.
[Victoria] The first is Mike Mason. I don’t understand why a woman of your prowess would associate with a scumbag like that. I would think you better than that Becca. I know you’re better than that. You need to be the monster we all know you are if you want to get that win you ever so desire, and a guy like Mike Mason is going to do you no favors. You know it’s the truth, you may think he’s there to help you focus, but to him, your just a tool of destruction that he wants to control, and he’s smart enough to make sure you’re on his side, because he’s a coward.
Victoria pauses again holding up a second finger to the camera.
[Victoria] Mason is right about one thing however, you do need to learn some self control. You wouldn’t want to repeat what happened with Zolton. I can’t say I’m really sad with what you did to him, he actually did something similar to my brother a couple years ago, and it cost him the match as well, but you know what….screw it.
Victoria stares with intensity at the camera, showing no fear.
[Victoria] I want it all Becca. Bring me the best fight you can bring, because I’m as sick and tired of losing as you are. One of us is going to end this little losing streak we find ourselves on, and for the other the losing streak continues. Which for you...isn’t good, because if I’m correct, you go on to face Renee Jonae next, one of my good friends and one of the favorites to win the whole thing. The next two weeks are going to be revolutionary for you, in either a good, or very bad way. So please, do bring the beast, and please try to rip me limb from limb, because I want to be sure you have no excuses when it’s YOU who gets ripped limb from limb by The Lyoness.
Once more, she takes a pause and holds up a third finger.
[Victoria] Lastly, is this sense of superiority I get from you, because you’re bigger, and more powerful you right away think that just makes you better, but it doesn’t. Really, it’s all you seem to have, just seek and destroy, but honestly Becca? How far as it gotten you? Sure you’ve come off powerful, but it hasn’t gotten you any wins. Now, I know..I know, I don’t have much room to talk, given I haven’t won any matches yet either, but I’m not going to let that fact enrage me, and cause me to lose my focus. I stay determined, stay focused on my target and go on to fight another day. My first victory will come soon, sooner than everyone realizes.
Victoria takes a few steps forward, toward the camera.
[Victoria] Becca, you are stepping into the lions den on Dystopia, and inside is a Lyoness who is hungry for her first victory, and no matter what form of beast comes wandering into her Pridelands, she will pounce, she will strike, and she will move to kill. Your fear and intimidation tactics won’t work on me, so if that;’s all you intend to bring, I suggest you reassess your gameplan, because otherwise The Beast is going to end up as a fulfilling dinner for a Lyoness.
She smiles to the camera, her eyes reaffirming her statement of no fear.
[Victoria] At Dystopia, The Lyoness feeds on a beast.
The scene slowly begins to fade away, as Victoria does her best to look as fearless as she possibly can, going into her upcoming match with Becca Wildeline.
-fin-