Being There: Like A Kite String

[AshCandor]

Something is about to give
I can feel it coming
I think I know what it means
I'm not afraid to die
I'm not afraid to live
And when I'm flat on my back
I hope to feel like I did

‘Kite’, U2

ON CAMERA
THE HERE AND NOW
TORONTO, CANADA



Salem walked along the shoreline of Lake Ontario not too far from where she lived in Toronto. She was dressed in ankle-length dark purple hooded coat, the hood pulled up over her head. Fingerless black wool gloves were on her hands, shoved down deep into the pockets of the coat. She gazed out over the water, her breath visible in the cold morning light. She regarded the camera with a dimpled smile and turned her eyes to the side for a moment, kicking a small stone.

“Hello again dear friends, fans, and foe alike. ‘Tis I, the Witchy Woman of Frontier Grappling Arts here to regale you with tales of wonder and whimsy. Walking along a dark frozen lake like the beginning of some fairy tale, don’t ya know. It seems the long and winding road paved by the wrestling gods has put your friendly neighborhood Salem into the city of White Plains, New York this week. And what a week it is, for this Vertigo. It seems once again I’m in a mismatched tag team match of sorts, and not too far back into my recent memory I remember another such match that had results that were both good and bad. Good in that I won the match for myself and my partner Cami D. Magna; and bad in that Cami decided that after the match was a great time to attack me. Well, let’s just say I settled that dispute not long after that, right?”

She smirked and stepped up upon a narrow raised concrete barrier wall that separated the concrete walk from the grassy earth beyond it leading away from the lake. She walked along it balanced, her arms out to the sides as she walked on the six-inch wide surface a few feet off the ground.

“So here we are, on the go home show before the mighty Canadian Stampede Supershow that will take place right here in Toronto where I currently live. The Westchester County Center in White Plains will get a preview of four participants involved in matches at Canadian Stampede. Across the way from me, you have Annie Zellor and Savannah Taylor as partners on Vertigo, only to face each other in Toronto. Now they say those two are friends, but from what I can tell they are so unlike each other. I guess that is what makes us interesting as people, hmmm? The little differences keep our attention. Both of those ladies have been champions, but Savannah hasn’t seemed to catch a break since she came over from Exodus. One week a rollup where her opponent had a handful of her attire for an added unfair advantage as the referee counted three. And then, last show in which Annie herself was the referee for the match between Savannah and I. Now I didn’t fully understand it at the time during the match, being a tad woozy from getting wailed on a lot during the match, but watching the tape back it appeared Savannah had a great pin attempt on me that never came to be, because Annie was distracted by those ringside heckling fans.”

Salem did a little spin and a hop on one foot perched atop her makeshift balance beam.

“I popped up not long after, popped Savannah and got the win for myself. I did what I had to do to win, my conscience is clear on that point. I did nothing underhanded, it was just an unfortunate string of events. I would say this, maybe Annie should leave the referee shirts in the closet from now on, be it Yankee pinstripe or standard issue zebra shirt. Because now those friends have beef, eh? A little bit of Bad Blood, with apologies to Ms. Swift. For what it’s worth, you’re going to have to put your differences aside, at least for a night if you hope to win this tag team match. It always seems like a series of unfortunate events and misunderstandings when it comes to little Annie Z. I’ve seen so many instances of it, and she sets herself up for them, rather innocently or not. The reasoning and the blame behind why these things happen is not for me to hash out or understand, not right now at least. Savannah and Annie have their own drama they can work out on their own time. If it turns out they can’t work together for a night, well it makes the job for my team that much easier right?”

Salem looked around, grabbed up a bit of her jacket and whipped her torso down doing a front flip, her black Chuck Taylor Converse shoes hitting upon the concrete wall after she had done a 360 in the air. Her urban high wire act complete, she smoothed out her coat and winked at the camera and giggled.

“Almost as easy as that, right? See I’m full of all kinds of tricks but just like the master magicians of old you never show off everything all at once, you leave them wanting more. In White Plains I will put on a show, a spectacle for the FGA fans of Vertigo. I want to win this match badly, you see. I want to go into Canadian Stampede with some highlight reel moments. So maybe just maybe, my partner will keep that in the back of her mind and remember just what she’s going to be facing. But I’m really getting ahead of myself, right Izzy? I should be thanking you, and so here it is: Thank you ever so much for still being impressed enough in my win over Savannah to give me a shot at that Mid-Atlantic Legacy title at Canadian Stampede. I know the match itself had a bit of controversy attached, but what match anymore doesn’t have a level of it? The key is, you know I’m capable and you know I’m a worthwhile opponent. I wouldn’t say we are the best of friends but we are definitely acquaintances, right Ms. Anders? We have common ground, no matter how you slice it. I’m talking of course about Artemis, my wifey boo and your friend. Heck, you were in my wedding, lady! I know this though, this business puts some matches before you that you never might expect to see. Like having to wrestle your wife in the SSWA Young Guns Cup tournament, which I did and I won.”

Salem waved to the camera and blew a kiss.

“Love you, Arty babe! I know we will meet again, you’re gonna want to get that win back, I know you too well! *Ahem* But your friendship to my wife aside, I know what you are capable of, Izzy. I’ve seen how tough, vile, and vicious you can be when you really get going. So pardon me if I go into this match trying to keep a bit of a watchful eye on you as the action unfolds on Vertigo. I know this, I’m not going to intentionally cheapshot you or anything of that sort. I want to actually win this tag team match! But you, I know how you can be, especially when it comes to that MAL belt. You’re protective of it, you take it as a bit of a personal affront should anyone step to you in hopes of taking it from you. Hey, I’m not afraid to say it… I respect your accomplishments. Let the execution in that ring and the actual factual record books show that you are without a doubt the best Mid-Atlantic Legacy Champion this company has ever seen. I’m not trying to blow smoke up your butt or butter you up either. I just want you to know that I’m not coming at you with an angle of disrespect on my part. I feel honored to step into the ring with you, both at Vertigo and at Canadian Stampede. And in both cases may the best one win.”

Salem tied her jacket off at the waist and did a handstand on the concrete beam, before doing a backflip dismount, whirling around to the camera with a big grin and a thumbs up as the video ended.

*****

You and I must make a pact,
We must bring salvation back
Where there is love, I'll be there
I'll reach out my hand to you,
I'll have faith in all you do
Just call my name and I'll be there

‘I’ll Be There’ - Jackson 5

OFF CAMERA
RECENTLY
MIAMI, FLORIDA

The raven haired pale skinned woman was soaked with sweat as she brushed the stringy hair from her face. She was breathing hard, a ragged catch in her chest.

“Again!”

She exhaled hard and gripped the top rope, leaning down before yanking herself up and over slingshotting into the ring. She tried to steady her body and delivered an elbow drop to the stuffed practice dummy laying in the ring. She didn’t get her body as parallel as she should and bounced her butt hard off the mat, jarring her spine a bit. She winced and sat up, looking off to the side.

“That’s better, Morgan. I’m sure you know what you did wrong though. You need to have control of your body, contort it more. Kick those legs to the side and land more flush, okay?”

Morgan nodded as Salem smirked at her with her hands on her hips. Salem found it a bit humorous that she was able to boss her big sister around like this. The shoe was on the other foot after so many years of Morgan lording it over her and telling lil’ Salem exactly when, where, and how she could or couldn’t do so many things.

“Take five and get yourself some water, we don’t need you passing out. That won’t do anybody any good, right?”

Morgan shot her a thumbs up and rolled out of the ring, making her way over to the fountain and the restroom area. Salem looked over at the woman standing beside her.

“So, Nina… this is what all my hard earned money has bought me, hmmm? I figured Morgan would be an A+ killer by now. She’s far more vicious than me, you know.”

Nina Stokes just shook her head and let out a sigh, somewhat used to her best friend’s sarcasm by this point, but still took what she said at face value sometimes.

“Salem, you don’t pay me anything, remember?”

Nina rolled her eyes as Salem patted her on the back.

“Well, you get what you pay for, I guess. Seriously though, she’s doing really good. I didn’t know what to expect when she first came to me and told me she wanted to wrestle. Suppose it’s only natural, having a little sister who’s done it a couple years now, and hanging around staying with you down here in Miami at the “Stokes Compound For Wayward Wrestlers”, hmmm?”

Nina folded her arms, trying to be offended but she still couldn’t help but smirk.

“You always calling it that. I can’t help it if my friends in the business like to come stay with me. Remember, you lived with me too for a while, pardna! Riding and dying with that GPW Wicked Strong, right?”

Salem looked at her and smiled, evoking memories of the tag team she’d been in with Nina in GPW, and never say never could be in again if the need arose. She looked at Nina warmly and gave her a big hug.

“You are a good friend, Ms. Stokes. I am very fortunate that my sister is in good hands down here. I just had to come and spend a few days, to visit you and Ryan and check on sis and her progress too, ya know?”

Nina pouted for a moment.

“You didn’t come to see me, it’s okay you can admit it, Salem. You just came for Morgan.”

Salem shot her a sideways glance.

“Okay, you can hush up that nonsense, Debbie Downer. You are now and will forever be my friend, and good friends are hard to come by in this world. It’s been weighing on me recently… I have to face Artemis’ friend Izzy Anders up in Canada in a couple weeks, for FGA. It’s for a title belt too. I know they are friends, but I also know how Izzy can be in the ring. And even before that, I have to team with her in a tag match this weekend. I want to trust her, and hopefully I can.”

Nina rubbed her chin, staring off into the distance.

“I see, you come down here for some of that good good Nina Stokes advice, right? I mean, Izzy has a dark side, don’t get me wrong. But you remember how it was with Artemis when y’all first met… professionally I’m speaking of. When you first came into GPW and entered that battle royal. Artemis is intense and can be very angry and vicious. I think that is why Artemis and Izzy get along so well. And with you and Artemis… well, we all know how that turned out. With Izzy, you aren’t marrying her. Just got to get along for this tag match, and then come at her with respect in that title match. But know that she’s gonna fight tooth and nail to keep that belt. It’s only natural.”

Salem nodded and patted Nina on the shoulder.

“Yeah, you’re right. I just hope when this is all over, we can all be in each other’s good graces still. I don’t like tension, and like to solve it and make it better when I can.”

Salem stared off into the direction of Morgan.

“Lord knows I’ve had a lifetime of that with her.”

Nina glanced over at Morgan as well and then hugged Salem again.

“You a lot like me, Boo. You got that big heart and it’s the best and worst thing you got going. Caring gets you hurt sometimes, but you take the good with the bad, lady. You’re tough, you will be fine.”

Salem nodded, thinking about her sister some more. So much had transpired in the last couple of years that it made her head spin. Morgan had finally gotten out of rehab for the last time, yet still seemed to bear grudges against Salem and their parents. But then Morgan had been hit by a car crossing the street. It must’ve been that fear of mortality that finally snapped her older sister out of her angry mode. They had patched things up, and it was the best thing Salem could’ve hoped for. Through all the good and bad mostly brought on by Morgan, Salem never stopped loving her sister. And now the love was mutual.

Recently Morgan had gone through some relationship problems, had bottomed out in a really depressed state. But through a series of talks, Salem and some other people had made her realize she had a lot to offer the world. Now Morgan was showing more and more confidence, and some would say a bit of cocky arrogant attitude. This made Salem both happy and slightly fearful at the same time. It was how Morgan used to act in the old days when she terrorized Salem. So far it seemed like the bully aspect had been purged from Morgan, at least toward Salem. Salem and Nina and a few others had helped focus this new found attitude, offering her good wrestling training. It gave Salem great pride in knowing she was helping her sister down this new path. Morgan had asked, and through her pure love for her sister Salem was more than happy to oblige.

“I will always be there for the people I care about, Nina.”