Opening engagement (Melissa)

[grace]

No one knew what they were getting into that night when “Oblivion” played and a rather stern looking Cosette Grace stormed down to the ring. She was wearing a brand new outfit all navy and white and she just seemed far more focused than we'd seen her all season as she stepped into the ring and got ready to speak.

Tonight, XWA I've come to re-introduce myself a bit. You see, in all of May Day's trappings and oversaturated motifs I think we may have glossed over something I said to Anjelyka that night. That I am a warrior by nature.

I tried to convince myself of that that night but I did the same thing I've done so many times before. I stopped before I got the job done, maybe I was holding back, maybe I'm just a bit too proud of how technically sound I am but the fact still remains another week has gone by and I've taken another step toward irrelevance. To the point where I'm great only because everyone seems to keep saying it instead of because of what I've done.

I only have myself to blame and I refuse to let this go on another moment. Just like I said that night from now on no surrender and no quarter, thoroughly break your enemies apart like me mum always said.

I've been paying attention backstage and I might have happened upon an interesting piece of news, and that's why I'm here. I have come here tonight to take on another warrior. A soldier to be exact. We'll find out whose spirit is stronger.

Melissa Armstrong, come face me.

[Vault]

After a minute of silence, Fall behind me by The Donnas starts to play over the PA as the lights dim down. After another 30 second pause, Melissa comes out onto the stage.



As she does her thing. Rose and Lucy have a little discussion.

Rose: Where has she been? She fought Katie Kodak and then just sorta disappeared.

Lucy: Well for those who don't know, she is also a mother with a young daughter. So I'd think that might have had something to do with her absence that was approved by the higher ups. There are some reports that she was also in Japan to expand her knowledge of striking, the reason Katie beat her easily in their match.

Rose: You seem to know a lot about her, you keep up on her or something?

" No, I just take my job seriously and do my researh so I can give the fans the facts. "

Back to Melissa who was in the ring with a mic. She decides to jump right onto it and skip the small talk...something she was never good at.

" So, you call yourself a warrior huh? Well what war have you ever been in? I mean you can't be a warrior with out a war. That was one thing that bugged me about your promo with Anjelyka...you both claim to be warriors...YET NEITHER of you have ever seen WAR! You're a fighter GET IT RIGHT!"

That was one thing that REALLY got Melissa's goad, people with no Military experience claiming to be 'soldiers' or 'warriors'.

" What's her problem? "

" Look at it from her point of view Rosie, she spent five years in Iraq in a hell Cosette couldn't imagine and Cosette claims to be something she isn't. Cosette, is a very good wrestler, the very first Pearl champion with three defenses BUT a 'warrior' in the traditional sense she's not. "

" Don't get me wrong, I respect what you've done in the ring...but don't CLAIM to be something your not... "

[grace]

A little smirk forms. This is just what she wanted.

Some how I was afraid you'd have a somewhat provincial view of things. But I'm afraid my mind is made up. This is me. This is my nature and anyone who's watched me has seen it slipping out over the years only to be denied and brushed aside.

Cosette steps in closer and looks Mel in the eye.

The question is if it offends you, what ever will you do about it?

[Vault]

" Right now? Nothin'. I could come down there and pound your skull in and beat you...but I wouldn't get paid for it. How about we come back out here a little later and do it when we'll be paid for it? "

[grace]

When you say it like that it sounds so exciting. Yes, I think that sounds perfect. I just hope you don't blow off any of that rage and indignation between now and then. I'm rather looking forward to it.

She smiled coolly across the ring at her opponent. Acting like this was all new for Cosette but for some reason it felt right, like tonight was going to be different. She let that thought turn over in her mind as the segment faded to black.