Post by Mandii Rider on Aug 7, 2023 19:51:36 GMT -5
Everyone lies.
One of mankind's greatest defense mechanisms is the ability to lie in order to protect ourselves from unfavorable outcomes. We lie to protect ourselves in social aspects to seem more relevant. We lie for pity in order to create a group mentality for protection. We lie to produce fear in others and gain or hold power. Sometimes, we lie because a good lie is more comforting than the truth. Sometimes, we unknowingly lie and cause it to spread like a virus.
We all lie.
"I want to discuss some inconsistencies in what you said to me last time we talked Mandii."
When caught in a lie we have two options; come clean and tell the truth, ultimately accepting the consequences of our actions or continue with the lie causing it to spread and grow. Coming clean can lead to recovery and balance while continuing the lie can lead into a downward spiral. On the other hand, admitting a lie can lead to terrible consequences we would rather avoid while another good lie would protect us. The question you should ask yourself when faced with these two options is can you remember your own lies or would the truth actually set you free.
"You said Mandii's mother was planning on using the safe haven law after giving birth but that law wasn't passed until 1999 at the earliest. Also, you're from Canada where there are no safe haven laws."
You should also weigh the risks of telling the truth or continuing a lie. Is the outcome of a good lie worth the possibility of the truth coming to light? When the truth is a dark reality and a lie is the perfect fairytale what would you choose? Which would you rather believe?
"Mandii, I can't help you if you don't tell me the truth."
"Liar."
All the best lies, the most realistic lies, are the ones that contain just a little bit of truth.
"I told you what I know, what I can remember from what was told to me growing up."
"It's funny though."
"Ha
ha
ha
ha"
ha
ha
ha"
"What is?"
Mandii deserved better; she deserved a history written with some sort of dignity. A child doesn’t choose their parents; it wasn’t her fault. She deserved a history.
"You expect me to tell you the truth when I've told you
from the beginning of our sessions that all I do is lie.
My existence is a lie. Still, you expect me to be honest with you."
from the beginning of our sessions that all I do is lie.
My existence is a lie. Still, you expect me to be honest with you."
"You're the liar."
"Do you feel more comfortable when you lie?"
The only person who could give her that history was the girl forged in fire, the girl who stole Mandii's name, the girl who had a second chance because of a mistake.
"Mandii."
The girl living a lie.
"I feel..."
"Powerful."
"Fraud."
“Fake.”
“Liar.”
“...Nothing…”
The ring is dimly lit as I stand leaning on the ropes, the revival championship hanging over the top rope. With a short glance around the arena, I can't help but feel a knot in my gut. This would be the first tag team I've been a part of since Jason's death, the main reason I started refusing to take part in tag team matches. I shake off the feeling and put on a smirk.
"We're on limited time so let's get started first with R.O.S.E, the codependent brigade. You would think it's a match made in heaven, a team made up of marridal partners, however what I see are two women who like to bitch and moan. The two of you make it very apparent you aren't worth shit without the other at your side. That's beautiful, really, I'm sure you'll have a long happy marriage but not a long happy tag team run. Lilith is a needy little eight year old trapped in a grown woman's body while Sarah has to play mommy and is too scared to compete in a one on one so she only competes in tag team matches. Part of what makes a team championship worthy is not only being able to work together but also the ability to stand on your own two feet as individuals. If neither of you can compete and actually stack up against an opponent on your own, your team is going to end up being a pile of crap. You should know the saying that a team is only as good as its crappiest player. The problem is I don't know which of you sucks the most.
Lilith, when you look up the word codependent your picture pops up right next to the definition. You have to have your hand held by mommy Sarah on a regular basis, she has to reel you back in with one of those child leashes so you don't run off too far and get lost in your fantasies. Up to this point, you've literally had zero competition since signing on here at OCW and when you did have competition you fell short. At revival you won against Jennifer Enigma which isn't saying much, there's a reason she's on the Rise roster and needs a little more work in the ring before she can play with the big dogs. However, when it came to the Revival championship match later that night you couldn't cut it but you know who did? Me, I walked into that Revival championship match on the heels of another match. Not only did I secure my place I proved that when you put me through the ringer I still come out victorious on the other side. I had odds stacked against me and I still beat you. You want to know why I won? I don't need someone to hold my hand and I do a lot more than just say Grrr, I actually back up my bark with a dangerous bite.
Sarah, I can't say much about you because you refuse to compete outside of a tag team match. What's wrong? Do you see the competition and know you don’t have what it takes to stand alone? Or, maybe the reason you only compete in tag team matches is so you have someone to blame if you lose. You strike me as the kind to throw someone under the bus when things don't go your way. Honestly, that explains why you let Lilith follow you around like a lost little puppy, it's easy to blame children because you can manipulate them into blaming themselves. You seem to like to bitch more than you work and I wouldn't consider winning against a team that barely bothered to show up as anything to gloat about. Do you still feel insulted? I do because I have to share a ring with an ungrateful whining little bitch and her wife who acts like she needs a "littles" space. Tell me, do you change Lilith's diaper before giving her a nice warm bottle and laying her down for bed?"
I laughed under my breath, with a name like Lilith I expected her to be scary but what I got was a care bear with fangs. Sarah talked a big game but the fact she can't stand on her own led me to believe she's a woman with a big mouth but little action to back up her empty words.
"Asylum, the brother sister duo, been there done that. You both actually had to work for your spot so you have more of my respect than R.O.S.E. However, Synn and Brooke aren't exactly the impediment of tag team glory considering Brookes history and Synn's not so loner status. You both did management to beat the face of the company though so color me somewhat impressed. However, one thing you both reply to much on is the fact you think because you're brother and sister it means you have a leg up. You both know each other so well outside of the ring because you grew up together but exactly how well do you know each other in the ring? From my understanding neither of you have been doing this long which means you're new at knowing what the other needs in the ring to actually help out. Not to mention one of you sounds like you have the same issue as R.O.S.E, codependency.
Nox, you talked a lot about how you and Zephyr were a team but can you also stand alone? You talked about how in your last tag team match that time in the ring didn't matter, what mattered was being able to be a team. You're wrong. Your history in the ring means a lot in every match you enter but I wouldn't expect you to understand that considering you're a rookie and all this is new to you. Match history helps you perfect your ability, it helps you learn more about what each other will do under different circumstances. Tell me, how can you know each other's moves so well if neither of you have been wrestling for long? Training? Let me guess, you guys give it your all when you're training with each other, no way in hell you would take it easy on each other because you're, I don't know, only training? You haven't had a taste of what it's like to stand across the ring and look at someone who stands between you and a win. You don't know what it's like to give your everything in a match, to fuck up and try to get back on top before the end comes. You can't tell me time in the ring doesn't matter in this match, well I mean you could but you'd either be lying or stupid for saying it. Sounds like the only thing you really have is this team so if I were you I'd find yourself before the only thing you're good for is looking out for your brother. Trust me, I speak from experience.
Zephyr, while Nox is all about the team you made it clear you can stand on your own two feet. I would say I completely agree with you but I don't. See, when I say you need to be able to stand alone even while in a tag team match I mean you aren't always going to have your partner right there to help. For example, if your partner is having issues with another team and you have your hands full with a team of your own then you both have to know how to deal with the situation individually. However, ultimately in order to succeed in a tag team match you still do need each other. You said you and Nox don't need each other to succeed which to me sounds like you believe you could win a match like this all on your own. It's funny how you made yourself sound similar to Brooke considering she turned her back on her partner before and if you peel back the layers to what you say yourself you have the makings of doing the same. Nox believes you both need each other, you on the other hand sound like you can make it without her, even if a match involves being a team. Don't worry, my brother and I had the same issue when we tried the tag team thing out. Sibling rivalry is a bitch and if I had to guess that's going to end up being your downfall at some point.``
I shrug and push off the ropes. Honestly, Asylum reminded me of Jason and I when we first decided to work together in this industry. We thought we were the best simply because we were siblings but in the end that was one of the things that tore us apart. I always had his back but in the end he didn't always have mine.
"Spirit U, what more can I say aside from the two of you irritate the shit out of me. Lilith acts like an eight year old but you two act like mindless school girls. Yet another team who made it this far in the tournament because their opponents didn't bother to try and on top of it neither of them want to compete solo just like Sarah. I'm starting to see a pattern. Do you ladies want to know why you lost your debut match? I'll give you a hint, it's the same reason you'll end up losing this match. Can you guess why? Because instead of focusing on anything relevant you both are more focused on cheering. Here's an idea, instead of continuing down this road of attempting to become wrestlers why don't you both try out, oh I don't know, becoming professional cheerleaders? Oh, right, because you even suck at that.
Carley, noone gives a royal fuck about your sexuality nor the fact you're currently in a relationship. Actually, maybe you should consider calling yourself bi-sexual considering that reguardless of what's been in your oppents pants you've gotten fucked at the end. You and Ariana seem to be two halves of a whole idiot almost completely forgetting what you're here to do, wrestle. Instead, you insist on cutting promos that contain the ADHA babbles that spill from your mouth that consist of useless information like you having glasses and braces. News flash, we can see that. You know what we can't see? Your potential to be anything other than a bobble headed bimbo. Again, maybe you should try a different profession before you get hurt.
Ariana, you seem just as surprised as the rest of us that you even made it into this tournament, that alone should be a red flag. Then again, you both did lose your first match here and now you've been given an opportunity you didn't actually work for so I guess I'd be shocked that management gave me another chance if I were you too. It's sad really, if you put even half the energy you have into your matches that you do into jumping around like a kangaroo on crack you might actually win. However, both you and your partner seem more interested in your stupid little cheers than you do in actually putting forth effort to win. Now I understand why you're so shocked to be in this tournament, even you know you don't belong in it."
I roll my eyes and pick up the Revival championship, slinging it over my shoulder.
"As for Jenny and myself, we know how to stand on our own and win. We've both gone into matches with the odds stacked against us and walked out the winner. Not only can we stand on our own two feet we can also come together to achieve a common goal. This week that goal is taking home the OCW tag team championships.
Jenny and I have a long history of being pinned against each other probably because xwf manamage knew what would end up happening if we actually ended up working together; we would overthrow people in charge and take over. For anyone not paying attention it seems like Jenny always gets what she wants because like me she doesn't give up. It's actually one of the things I admire about her and one reason we'll walk out your new tag team champions, in fact, it was part of the reason we ended up being the last OCW tag team champions.
I know what everyone is probably thinking, that Jenny and I have been at each other's throats for way too long so how can we work together? There's a reason for the saying keep your friends close but enemies closer, it's because your enemy probably knows more about you than your best friend. I know what makes Jenny tick, I know what she's best at in the ring, I also know what she lacks and can make up for it when push comes to shove. When you've been pinned against someone for so long you learn a lot about them, it's one reason why Jenny and I can actually work together and make each other better. What also helps is the fact that the only reason we disliked each other so much was because of a shitty environment, in fact, I would even go so far as to say we could be good friends some day."
Once again I laugh under my breath.
"One of the biggest advantages we have is what all of you will probably see as a disadvantage, we are only a team because we're both a threat. R.O.S.E is a married couple and regardless of appearances the emotions attached to such a team can and probably will fuck you both over. One of you is in trouble, the other is going to want to sweep in and save the lover in distress which leaves you both vulnerable in the end. Asylum keeps it in the family but like I mentioned before, sibling rivalry is a bitch and since neither of you have debuted in a singles match I'm sure you both want to prove who can cut it here which means you'll have to leave the other in your dust. In the end it'll be easy to pick off the weaker link of the two of you. Spirit University are just the bestest of friends but what happens when one of you causes the other to look bad? Who am I kidding, you make ourselves look bad let alone each other. See while the rest of you decided to be a team because you're family or BFFs, Jenny and I are a team because we want to win, dominate even, and at the end of Anarchy, that's what we're going to do."
Proudly I hold the revival championship on my shoulder as the camera fades out.
As I walk backstage I can hear the faint noise of clapping over the hussle and bussle of getting things ready for Anarchy in a few days. Jenny pushes off the wall she had been leaning on and walks toward me with a smile on her face.
"Bravo, you sounded like you actually believed every word you were saying as if the only reason you decided to join me was so you didn't have to face me."
A large smile grew across my face as I nodded my head.
"That's how it started Jen, I won't lie and say that this tag team originally was just meant to keep you out of my way. However, regardless whether you believe me or not I actually do respect you. It takes a lot to continue to wrestle when people have put you down for the majority of your career. I was impressed with you every time I faced you and part of the reason for that is because you came from nothing but being a pretty face at Chris's side to actually making a name of your own. I was hard on you during our matches because I saw potential in you to be better than you were when I first met you and you did that, you deserve the recognition for it. You also pushed me to be better each week in order to beat you. I had to get better every week so you didn’t win and for that I’m grateful."
I knew Jenny didn't fully trust me and a part of me knew I probably shouldn't trust her. However, I also knew Jenny had a drive to be the best in every aspect of her career, including this tag team division, which was enough for me to believe that I could trust her now. It was going to be a hard road becoming a team but I was more than willing to make it happen. Afterall, opposites like Jenny and I can make the biggest impacts on not only a division but a federation.
"Uh huh."
"Look, you don't have to believe anything I've said, you probably don't even care that you have my respect, but I'm saying this to you so you know you can trust me, so you know I'm on your team. I realize that I've said and done things to make you question, for lack of a better word, my loyalty but I've never lied to you. You can trust me to have your back and I trust you to have mine this week."
I hold out my hand and for a moment Jenny just looks at it.
"XWF made sure to pin us together because they couldn't handle what would happen if we actually teamed up. Let what was in the past be in the past and let's start over."
Jenny rolled her eyes before gripping my hand with a shake. Once we both let go she wiped her hand on her pants then picked up her Rebellion Championship from a nearby table.
"If I didn't trust you I wouldn't have made this team with you. Afterall, a good liar knows when they are being lied to."
![](https://www.icegif.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/icegif-803.gif)
Jenny gave me a wink before walking off down the hall. For a moment, I pondered her statement. There was something about the way she said what she did before leaving that left me feeling uneasy. I closed my eyes and shook my head trying to get rid of the feeling. I had other things to do besides stand here and wonder what Jenny meant.