Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2019 7:20:06 GMT -7
Off-Camera
Sunday, February 10, 2019
Los Angeles, California
Zdunich Zoological Gardens
11:57 PM PST
Climax Control had finished earlier and Seleana Zdunich’s team had won with Seleana getting the victory personally over her wife, Christina “Crystal Hilton” Zdunich while their respective partners, Kate Steele and Jessie Salco, had each done their parts to try to win as well. As Seleana sits down at her desk wondering what she should do next, her phone chimes at her with a message. Seleana glances down and sees the namer at the top.
Christina Zdunich
She nods and clicks on the message to see what the woman could possibly want now. Two weeks on from the assault pushed on by Christian Underwood and one week from Seleana’s own retaliation, the match seemed to have helped pushed the toll on their relationship.
“...you beat me.”
Seleana stares at the message and frowns in confusion. Was this Crystal being upset and staggered that she had lost to her own student/wife or was this her having some other realization? Should Seleana be worried? Should she be angered? Before she can decide one way or the other, another message chime alerts her to a follow-up.
“go ahead rub it in tell me im worthless”
Seleana’s mouth falls open in shock. The real Christina was bleeding through the Crystal Hilton veneer. For all of Crystal’s supposed Hollywood trappings, for all of her supposed glamor, for all of her bravado, here was proof that it was all as painted on as the make-up she wore in her movies to change her appearance for a character. Seleana shakes her head as the chime goes of a third time.
“tell me i suck”
Seleana’s lips curl, annoyance creeping into the worry already there. This was Crystal trying to reassert her dominance and find a way to put the mask of arrogance back on. If Seleana told her what she was asking to hear, one of two things would happen and neither of them was good. Either Crystal would not, smirk and wave it around to show the world that she was not the bad guy because her wife, this supposedly sweet and loving thing that everyone thought of Seleana, was just as much of an arrogant bitch as she was and she could proudly proclaim herself the wounded party to the world while braying loudly about her impending title shot that Christian Underwood was paying her as a favor for attacking Seleana and giving him a way to actually hurt her for breaking his face all those weeks ago.
The other option was equally unappealing as it meant Christina would take the words to heart and do something drastic, opening up another Pandora’s box of questions no one would really wish to deal with. Seleana shakes her head and stares at her phone. What should she say to that? She pauses and looks up at the ceiling, pondering it all. What did she really think of her wife right now? She continues to think on this question for another couple of minutes, starting and then stopping and deleting a response three times before she finally settles on one and sends it off.
“And why would I do that?”
She sets her phone down knowing full well that the response will either wait for hours or there will not be one, per se, and the next message will just come in and act like nothing has happened in the interim. This was a favorite tactic though Seleana was unsure if it was really a tactic or just Christina being Christina about things.
Seleana Zdunich: Vad ska du göra nästa stjärna?
She sighs and sits down into her rather basic office chair. The others who worked here had been surprised that she had opted for the cheapest option instead of getting herself what amounted to an overstuffed leather throne of sorts but Seleana had thought all she needed was a small chair that could move slightly so why bother getting the big ostentatious showpiece when she wasn’t planning on showing anyone anything when it came to her office? She nods to the phone and then glances over to the small cot she’s called home for the last week and nods slowly.
Seleana Zdunich: Jag kommer att bli bra.
Slowly, she moves her gaze back over to her phone. There was no real surprise that there was no response to what she’d sent. This was normal operating procedure for Christina no matter what persona she was trying to put on for everyone else, especially when she knew she’d made a mistake. Sighing sadly, Seleana nods to herself.
Seleana Zdunich: Vi kommer att bli bra.
Her eyes close and she sits back in her chair, wondering how long it would be until she actually felt the truth of that statement. Would they really be alright? Would she? Or would Christian Underwood finally have his victorious bit of revenge and manage to break their marriage just for spite’s sake? Again, she nods to herself.
Seleana Zdunich: Så småningom…
How long would “eventually” be?
Monday, February 11, 2019
Los Angeles, California
Zdunich Zoological Gardens
10:11 AM PST
Seleana had been up for about an hour, making use of the shower facilities and making a morning meeting that none of her employees had expected her to be at. She had smiles for them and taken a seat in the back corner, remaining quiet as the meeting went on around her for the better part of forty minutes. She was pleased to see how well everything seemed to be running, not bothering to interrupt anyone and only lingering for a few minutes after to talk with the supervisor she had in charge of most of the day to day operations. The woman, an experienced operations manager named Tanya Marsh, was married to the snake handler and seemed to know ehr stuff. She’d quickly managed to cover her thoughts and questions with Tanya before returning to her home away from home to contemplate what she would do next. Not being booked on the next Climax Control and being on an off week in Galactic Women’s Wrestling as well was giving her almost what felt like too much time to sit and think on her current situation. Just as she takes her place in her office chair, her phone chimes at her. She looks down, hopeful it’ll either be zoo business or one of her two sisters, Zenna or Katra, or maybe even her stepdaughter, Brittany Williams, messaging to say hello as they all tended to do with regularity.
Christina Zdunich.
Seleana nods to the name and then pulls up the message to see which direction this would take. Would her wife try to pick up where they had left off the night before after Seleana’s victory over her or would she just act like they hadn’t left off in an awkward place at all?
“Haiiii hon its me CHRISTINA”
The answer actually made Seleana smile even as she shakes her head in slight disbelief. Even after a year of this, it still managed to somewhat surprise her when her wife just started a whole new conversation. The chime goes off again.
“Can I take you out for Valentine’s Day?”
Seleana’s jaw drops just as it had the previous evening. Was she serious? Seleana’s head flies back as she looks to the ceiling. What was she supposed to say to that, of all things? Before she can devise an answer, the phone chimes again. Seleana glances down and shakes her head again in stunned disbelief.
“?”
Was Christina seriously trying to push this now? What did she expect Seleana to say after what had happened? To attack your own wife just to get a title shot you have already proven you can get without extra help and then two weeks later act like they should be like the bad commercials for cards, flowers and candy on television was almost unthinkable and yet, here it was happening. Seleana stares at the phone, unsure of what to say back in response.
Seleana Zdunich: Jag…
She sighs heavily, still staring at the phone.
Seleana Zdunich: Vad säger jag?
Before she can answer her own question, the phone chimes with yet another message from Christina. Seleana looks down and cannot believe her eyes.
“Hey you love you i realize i got nothing left.”
Her jaw clenches as she almost throws the phone.
Seleana Zdunich: För fan i helvete! Din jävla idiot! Varför tänkte du inte på detta innan du angrep mig? Varför tänker du aldrig på sådana saker?
She drops the phone from only an inch above her desk and kicks the floor.
Seleana Zdunich: Skit också! Du jävla slog mig! Du vet att jag inte skulle ha gjort det mot dig!
She turns away, angry tears in her eyes.
Seleana Zdunich: Jag slog honom för dig!
As she sits there shaking her head sobbing, the phone chimes again. Seleana tries to pull herself together as she slowly turns around. She picks up her phone and stares at the fresh message.
“I dont know where to go from here but i wont hurt you no more… be safe.”
Seleana drops the phone and starts sobbing all over again, visions of what all that could mean dancing in her head. What could possibly happen next?
Tuesday, February 12, 2019
Los Angeles, California
Zdunich Zoological Gardens
10:02 AM PST
Seleana steps into her office and glances at the cot she had not used the night before. After spending several hours crying to herself in this very office, she had gotten herself up and gone over to a bar called Broken Promises run by friends of hers named Shay Kenyon and Lena Theras. The married couple lived in an apartment above the bar with their two nearly four-month-old twin daughters, Jami Hope and Destiny Joy, and Seleana had crashed there for the night when Shay had thought it a bad idea to drive back to the zoo in her emotional state despite being dead sober. As she sits down, her phone chimes and Seleana braces herself for another round. She glances down and sees it’s just a spam email about male enhancement products and deletes it, enjoying marking it as something the email host should take a look at as a phishing scam. A second later, she nods to herself and answers her wife.
“If Brittany and HayJo will be there, I will meet you all somewhere.”
The message ahd only be gone for a second before an answer comes back almost as if Christina had been sitting and staring at her own phone constantly since the previous morning.
“Thats not how a private v day works”
Seleana sighs. So now it was back to this. Seleana swallows hard. What should she say to this? She almost felt like this was an ultimatum without making the actual ultimatum. Her phone chimes again and Seleana looks at her wife’s new message.
“I need you”
Seleana sets the phone down and just stares at it. Christina was not going to do this to her today, not again. A second later, Seleana walks out of the room leaving the phone on the desk and marching out to the fresh air outside. Fifteen minutes later, she comes back to find a message left on her voicemail. Seeing it’s from Christina, Seleana contemplates erasing it for a second only to stare at the phone, seemingly unable to move a finger.
Seleana Zdunich: Vad har du att säga?
Her finger continues to hesitate. Did she really want to know what Christina had to say? Finally, she presses the button and the message plays, the unmistakable sound of her wife’s voice comes back, crying as she does so.
Christina Zdunich: Please…
Christina’s voice stumbles, clearly sobbing as she does this.
Christina Zdunich: I’m sorry, ok! I fucked up and I know it! Is that what you want to hear? I NEED you! I don’t know what…
She trails off and sobs some more and Seleana closes her own eyes. This was no acting job. She’d heard a speech like this before when Crystal was just putting on a show and this was not that at all. This sounded like a broken child desperately searching for a hand to cling to.
Christina Zdunich: You know what…
Suddenly, the sound of Christina’s voice changes completely.
Christina Zdunich: Fine, don’t talk to me! Just… whatever! I’ll… whatever!
The message ends and Seleana shakes her head nearly throwing the phone again.
Seleana Zdunich: För fan i helvete!
She sets the phone down and just stares at it, anger creeping into her eyes.
Seleana Zdunich: Vad är fel med dig?
Stepping back, Seleana turns, shaking her head, and heads for the doorway again knowing full well she’s going back to Broken Promises tonight and this time she might even have a beer or two.
Seleana Zdunich: Din jävla…
A couple of hours later, Seleana is sitting at her desk when her phone chimes back at her again. Her jaw drops as she sees the name of her wife staring back at her. This was a change, especially after the message she’d left earlier that had sounded so final.
“I been contemplating suicide but farrah talked me out of it”
Farrah was Farrah Cornett, Crystal’s stablemate back in L.A.W. in the Boardwalk Angels. Seleana always called Farrah “Mama Red” as she was very nearly Seleana’s mother-in-law in the months before she’d been introduced to Christina by a mutual friend, another former Boardwalk Angel, current Hybrid Wrestling Unleashed Grand Champion Stacy Jones. Seleana knew given how Mama Red had reacted to the news of Christina’s betrayal that if she had actually called Farrah then this was not some idle threat. Seleana stares at the words and ponders what to do next. The chime interrupts her and she nods to the phone.
“i want to have a night with you is that so much to ask?”
Seleana’s head droops, her chin nearly colliding with her chest. This was Christina fighting through all the Crystal smoke and mirrors.
The REAL Christina.
Seleana exhales heavily and the chime greets her again.
“Please”
Knowing how proud Christina liked everyone to think she was, this was a major effort being made. Seleana stares at the phone and nods to herself.
“¿Dónde?”
With that one word, Seleana knew she’d taken a shot in the dark that could very easily blow up in her face. If she were wrong, this could lead to another trap and leave her in a position where the entire world would either be laughing at her for being so incredibly stupid or demanding answers for the exact same reason. It was a chance that people like Christian Underwood and Alicia Lukas would relish and probably use to tapdance all over her and yet, it was something else she’d heard another friend say that made her decide to trust her instincts even in the face of almost everybody else screaming that this was a Admiral Ackbar meme come roaring to life. Eavan Maloney, once Seleana’s sister-in-law and still somebody she considered a sister, had said that she had learned that Zdunich Women do not give up on people and this would be no exception, even if it turned out to be a mistake all over again. The chime sounds and Seleana looks down.
“ Wherever i need you and im so sorry”
Seleana nods. She would have to get in touch with Christina again tomorrow because this was likely to be the last word on the matter for today. She nods, hoping above hope that she hasn’t just made the biggest mistake of her life.
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
Los Angeles, California
Zdunich Zoological Gardens
10:59 PM PST
Seleana had spent the day waiting to hear back from Christina and was actually somewhat surprised she had not yet. Knowing the previous night had very nearly ended with her going to get drunk, she had decided to stay in tonight to get ready for Valentine’s Day tomorrow. Getting drunk was not a habit she wanted to pick up. Her younger sister, Zenna, had managed to remind her of this fact several times as had Zenna’s fellow recovering addicts, Eavan Maloney, Zenna’s fiancée Linnéa Lacroix, and her cousin Alexi’s former tag team partner, Raevyn Lilja. She’d seen them all in New York City recently during the celebration for the birthday of the youngest Zdunich sister, Katra. , and they had all said the same thing to her: do not allow this thing with Christian and Christina to push you into habits like that, especially given the prevalence of drugs in Hollywood. In the year she had lived here, she had seen a fair amount of pills, powders and all manner of alcoholic beverages and she knew exactly how easy it would be to find a poison and lose herself into it the same way they all had and, in deed, the way Christina had herself earlier in her life. It had been no secret when Seleana had started dating Christina that alcohol had wormed its way into her as if she was a walking tequila bottle just begging for a refill and Seleana did not relish the idea of becoming that herself. Now, after putting in a full day’s work at the zoo and hearing nothing back, she checks her phone to make sure it has not had a problem. Satisfied that the device in working order, she nods and sends off a message to Christina.
“¿Dónde mañana?”
An answer comes back quickly, as if Christina had also waited all day for Seleana to make the first move this time.
“Sel you dont have to speak in spanish”
Seleana stares at the screen in momentary disbelief. Did she really think she was doing that just to be patronizing? Seleana had enjoyed learning Spanish and had always thought of it as something they shared. A further chime quickly interrupts her worry.
“Do you wanna sPend the day with me yes or no”
Seleana shakes her head, almost laughing now. The absurdity at times was always a little endearing even if Christina tended to go a little over the top at times with it. She nods and answers before anything further can really happen.
“Where do you wish to meet up?”
She stares at the phone hoping beyond hope Christina does not try and more Crystal approach and start making elaborate plans for surprise trips or something. That would not be a good idea and would be the fastest way to make Seleana regret answering this plea. The chime quickly kills the worried anticipation.
“Do you trust me”
Oh, this was not a good start. This sounded very, very Crystal and not in a good way. This sounded like something she would say before showing up in a limo and trying to start this private evening early. Another chime quickly edges up Seleana’s anxiety level.
“Sel?”
Seleana stares at her phone. Should she back out now or was that not an option anymore? Was this proof that everyone had been right to tell her to cut and run two weeks ago? Was there really nothing else to it than this? After standing in silence for a few minutes, Seleana tries a response.
“?”
She shakes her head, hoping the next message is not Crystal announcing she’s outside and wants this reunion to start now before it’s even really Valentine’s Day. Seleana could not imagine a worse idea than that. The chime announces she no longer has to wonder and she slowly glances down, holding out hope Crystal will not be as stupid as others have said she is.
“Happy V Day”
Seleana stares at her phone, the look on her face now as if this is the single strangest message she has ever received. Slowly she glances up and sees the time.
12:02 AM…
A small smile crosses Seleana’s face. Maybe there was hope for everything yet.
“Glad alla hjärtans dag.”
Thursday, February 14, 2019
Valentine’s Day
Los Angeles, California
Zdunich Zoological Gardens
9:15 AM PST
Seleana walks back into her office from the shower facilities and looks at her phone. The time was quickly approaching to answer which of them would make the first move. Would it be Christina? Or would it be Seleana? The answer would come even as Seleana was pondering what to do with herself while this question rattled around inside her brain with a message chime.
Christina Zdunich.
Seleana nods and quickly checks the message.
“Happy V Day”
A small smile crosses her face and she quickly punches in her answer.
“Glad alla hjärtans dag.”
She sits down on the office chair and quickly glances down ehr list of thing she needed to do and then punches in another message. No need to leave things hanging today. If they were going to go bad, best to get it over with quickly.
“What we do today?”
The answer comes back quicker than Seleana had anticipated.
“Romantic dinner”
Seleana nods slowly. If this was all Christina was going to go for, this might not be too bad after all. So long as she did not overreach, this might be…
A chime interrupts her train of thought.
“Massage session for two”
Seleana stares and the smile starts to fall slightly. She would have to inquire about whether this was to be therapeutic or the happy ending type usually bandied about in their neighborhood. That would definitely qualify as an overreach on Crystal’s part and torpedo things before they had a chance to even start to come back. Another chime quickly grabs her attention.
“Sel do you love me”
Seleana just stares in white-eyed wonder at this question.
Seleana Zdunich: För fan i helvete! Vilken typ av fråga är det här?
Shaking her head, Seleana regains her composure and tests the waters.
“When and where?”
The answer comes back and Seleana just stares again.
“Do you trrust me”
Now another alarm was going off inside Seleana’s head. What was Crystal planning with this? Before she can say anything, the chime tells her Christina must have had a moment of clarity as well.
“The limo will get you”
Seleana nods, knowing full well this could still be a major mistake but could she really take the chance the other way? Her instincts had served her well enough lately to get her on the company radar in Sin City Wrestling after nearly a year of trying. Was this really that different when it basically boiled down to business on some level anyway?
“Okej”
The message had barely been gone for a second when a chime announces an answer.
“DO YOU LOVE ME”
Seleana wastes no time in firing her answer back.
“Would I be upset at what you did if the answer was no?”
She stands in her office, glaring at her phone, fully expecting this to now turn into an argument that should not happen but will anyway because of Crystal’s self-described level of being high maintenance. A second later, an answer comes back.
“Ok.”
Seleana nods and sets about getting ready, not knowing what was really in store for her for the rest of the night.
Saturday, February 16, 2019
Los Angeles, California
Zdunich Zoological Gardens
11:30AM PST
Seleana walks into her office. The morning had been filled with getting ready to go to the next Climax Control even though she was not booked and was not even sure Christian would allow her into the building under those circumstances. She was going anyway just in case somebody asked her to do something else on the show. She did not want to give Christian the satisfaction of saying she had breached her contract by not showing up for work. If he sent her away, well, then it would be on him and she would simply chalk that up to his own level of enmity for her. As she set her gym bag down, her phone chimes at her and she glances to see who it could be.
Christina Zdunich.
She nods and then checks the message.
“hey youyuu”
She stares at the screen in stunned silence. It had been a full day since they had woken up next to each at the hotel and Seleana had watched Christina argue with herself before dumping out nearly an entire prescription of her medication and then threaten herself with a knife. Christina had then argued with herself some more before running out, apologizing as she went leaving Seleana standing there alone and confused. There had been no communication since then aside from Brittany telling her over the phone that her mother had returned home and seemed to be in a good mood. Another che and Seleana looks down trying not to remember how that particular meeting had ended.
“Enjoy Valentines Day”
Seleana shakes her head. She knew this was more a question than a statement and that this was Christina testing to see how far the previous morning had pushed things especially after there had been no sex involved to cap off Valentine’s Day. Cuddling yes, but no sex and that had been Seleana’s call, one that Christina had actually accepted without any kind of protest for once. Seleana nods to the phone and punches in an answer.
“Ja.”
She pauses, considering her next words carefully before punching in more of an answer.
“Until you pull knife.”
An answer chimes back quickly.
“Ty for coming.”
Before Seleana can even contemplate an answer, the phone itself rings. Seleana sees her wife’s picture and answers.
Seleana Zdunich: Ja?
Christina’s voice comes back, this time without sobbing being involved.
Christina Zdunich: When are you coming home?
Seleana can’t believe her ears. Were they really having this conversation?
Seleana Zdunich: I do not know.
Seleana can hear annoyance creep into Christina’s voice.
Christina Zdunich: Why not?
Seleana considers just hanging up but decides not to.
Seleana Zdunich: You need ask?
Christina almost scoffs. This would be Crystal talking more than Christina now.
Crystal Hilton: You can’t be mad at me forever, Babe…
Knowing this means she will be more combatice now, Seleana once again considers just hanging up.
Seleana Zdunich: You attack me for a title shot, tell the world I am weak and then try to guilt me into things by telling me you are suicidal and you have to ask why I am upset with you?
She pauses and then glares ahead at the wall of her office.
Seleana Zdunich: Look in mirror, Crystal!
For a split second there is silence between them. Then Crystal’s voice comes back again.
Crystal Hilton: Oh, come on! You know that was all business! That was all…
Seleana cuts her off.
Seleana Zdunich: All acting?
She can almost see her wife nod arrogantly in response.
Crystal Hilton: Damn good acting too! I should have won a fucking Oscar!
Knowing what’s coming, Seleana looks to the floor.
Seleana Zdunich: For acting like you are this or for acting like you actually care about something other than yourself?
Crystal’s voice returns, her level of annoyance audibly escalating.
Crystal Hilton: Are you serious right now, Babe? What the hell kind of…
Seleana cuts her off again.
Seleana Zdunich: Nej! Sluta prata! Du har pratat tillräckligt!
Crystal sighs in annoyance.
Crystal Hilton: English, Babe…
Seleana pounds her free hand on the desk.
Seleana Zdunich: ¡Hablaré cualquier idioma que quiera hablar!
Crystal’s voice comes back with slightly less bass in it.
Christina Zdunich: Ok… I’m… I’m sorry… I…
Seleana stares at the wall, not sure if she should punch it or run out of the place screaming as the voice on the other end suddenly transforms as if a mask has just been shattered into a million pieces.
Christina Zdunich: Please… come home…
Seleana steps back at the sound of Christina talking again.
Seleana Zdunich: Why would I want to do that when we will be scheduled to fight? Both Sin City and Galactic seem to enjoy exploiting our rather public spat.
Christian goes quiet for a second.
Christina Zdunich: Where… have you… been…
She stops short of finishing her question as if she is truly afraid of the answer. Taking pity on her, Seleana nods to the wall.
Seleana Zdunich: I have been sleeping mostly at the zoo.
Christina’s voice takes on a new sound of terror.
Christina Zdunich: Mostly?
Seleana nods.
Seleana Zdunich: I spent two nights over at Shay and Lena’s. I have not found somebody else to go and share my nights with that way. I know you worry of such things.
Christina’s voice starts to waver.
Christina Zdunich: Please? Come home?
Seleana looks to the floor again.
Seleana Zdunich: I…
Christina can’t take the possibility of the answer coming now.
Christina Zdunich: Please? We don’t even have to share a room! You shouldn’t need to go crash on friends’ couches to save money! I know you’ve been avoiding that, Sel, I’ve seen the credit statements! This is your house too, just…
She trails off, clearly about to break.
Christina Zdunich: Take one of the other…
Seleana takes this in and listens as her wife starts to quietly cry.
Seleana Zdunich: I will consider… there are others who are involved as well.
Christina's voice wavers more.
Christina Zdunich: I missed you... do you want us to get counseling?
Seleana shrugs.
Seleana Zdunich: You think will do good or you think Crystal stop it from helping?
Christina’s voice comes back sounding like she’s been punched in the gut repeatedly.
Christina Zdunich: I... Let’s do it.
Seleana nods slowly.
Seleana Zdunich: I will see you at the show tomorrow and we will discuss it then.
Christina Zdunich: Ok…
The call ends and Seleana shakes her head. What else could be coming now?
On-Camera
Friday, February 22, 2019
Los Angeles, California
Zdunich Zoological Gardens
Office of Seleana Zdunich
6:30 PM PST
The camera opens to find Seleana Zdunich standing by her cot near the edge of the left wall in her office only a foot away from the bare desk that is covered in paperwork, a laptop computer perched on it and the small cheap office chair sitting in front of it. Seleana nods as the camera takes in her complete visage complete with blue jeans and a black American Murder Log t-shirt that reads, “Everything Burns” in stark white lettering over what looks like a growing anthropomorphic fireball.
Seleana Zdunich: Heya, how’s it?
She glances down to her shirt and then shrugs slightly even before she brings her gaze back to the camera. She nods slowly, still looking down.
Seleana Zdunich: This is an appropriate shirt for the situation, ja?
Looking up, Seleana can’t help but smile slightly.
Seleana Zdunich: Alicia speak of vindication and I know that taste well.
She nods slowly and then glances down at her shirt again, seemingly fixating on the fireball.
Seleana Zdunich: I thought I was standing up for my wife and Christian Underwood saw fit to send me away. I was brought back and he threw several plans at me and I thought I had achieved vindication when he was unable to beat me or break me or put me down like the dog he think I am. He call my wife much worse and he treat me like how he speak of my wife and yet…
She looks back up to the camera and nods pointedly.
Seleana Zdunich: I am still here. I am still employed by Sin City Wrestling and not only has he not crushed me like the angry fist of God, but he has seemingly accomplished the opposite as I have risen in the ranks because of his attempts to punish me.
She pauses to shrug, looking just off to the right of the camera.
Seleana Zdunich: I would call that vindication, ja?
She nods as she brings her gaze back to the camera’s lens.
Seleana Zdunich: But that sweet taste, and it did taste sweet in the moment, it turn to ashes as fast as it come. Plan C reared its head and all that sweet vindication went crashing to the floor in a matter of seconds and I know there are some who would say I should have considered Crystal Hilton assaulting me as yet more vindication because Christian had to stoop to calling my own wife and someone he does tend to get along with to get to me and even that has not worked completely but…
She trails off, looking down to the floor again.
Seleana Zdunich: I would be lying if I said it did not get to me.
Looking down, she starts ton nod slowly.
Seleana Zdunich: It is is true, it got to me just as it is true that, as Alicia said, I have not done well in my previous championship opportunities. I have had several and I have yet to win one which, vindication for her, I suppose, ja?
Looking back up, Seleana nods some more, her head moving ever so slightly as if she can hear the voices from outside saying certain things.
Seleana Zdunich: I had one championship opportunity in L.A.W. alongside Christina against what was the best tag team in the world at the time, the Boardwalk Angels. They were on a winning streak the likes of which Alicia can relate to because it was like hers in Honor Wrestling. Christina and I were given an opportunity, one I admit I was not ready for as my career was mere months old at the time. I expected to be destroyed by Farrah Cornett and Zoey Madigan-Star as they both had far more experience than I and they were an incredible team with more chemistry than I had ever had with anyone. They should have destroyed us…
Seleana’s head stops moving as she looks dead into the camera.
Seleana Zdunich: Vindication visited me that night when we were not only not destroyed, but nearly dethroned the undefeatable that night. The taste was sweet but then turned bitter because while it was a moral victory, as many will point out, moral victories do not pay bills.
A small smile graces her features for a moment and then fades away.
Seleana Zdunich: L.A.W. closed and Christina asked me to join her here and in the year or so that I have been here, I have been afforded multiple opportunities to become Bombshell Roulette Champion. I was not ready for those in the same way i was not ready for the match with the Boardwalk Angels. Many dismissed me as being someone who was only treading as far as my more famous family members’ names could take me. Crystal Hilton, Brittany Williams, Robbie Priest, Linnéa Lacroix, Haylie Jo Annis, Amy Rae Annis, Kendra Goganious, they are all related to me or will be sometime in the future as things appear and they have all been champions. Some took longer than others to attain that status and some have done it more often than others, but they have all achieved championship standing and I…
Trailing off again, she shakes her head sadly.
Seleana Zdunich: I have not been so fortunate. I will admit right now, the first nine months or so of my career, I was not so focused on anything but being able to step into the ring and not get myself killed. I did not seek the glory and honor of being a champion despite being given the opportunity several times and perhaps that was a mistake but it is one I can freely say was my own and no one else’s. I was not ready and I did not believe myself ready to challenge another in the ring. I was happy to be there and I was happy to not embarrass myself as I learned and now I suppose vindication comes to me in the form of this championship opportunity. Alicia Lukas says I deserve it because of my hard work and because of all I bring to the table and I suppose that stands as vindication for me as well given how many others have said quite the opposite over my relatively short career in this sport.
She nods to herself and looks to the ground again.
Seleana Zdunich: Vindication does taste sweet, ja Alicia?
She nods again and continues to look down before looking at the fireball on her shirt again.
Seleana Zdunich: You have stated you wish to make that Bombshell Championship something more than the others who have held it and treated it poorly. I say that is a worthy aspiration to carry. You are a worthy champion and one I will not denigrate for taking more than one attempt to capture it because it is the journey that makes the championship worthwhile. You say I choke away championship opportunities while all you do is win and I cannot argue with that assessment aside from I still managed to get them even as a rookie who did not know what she was doing. Despite taking the lumps and losses I did, I still managed to stay around and grow and now I stand in airt I have never breathed before.
She looks up and nods to the camera.
Seleana Zdunich: I have never before gained an opportunity at your championship, Alicia, and had I done so before now, I know I would not have been ready because I had not yet been tested the way I have been now. Before I punched Christian Underwood, I had never tasted true danger in that ring. I had never really been placed in a situation where someone wanted to do to me what he wanted done. Maria Salvatore was the closest to that ever before and even then she was more angry at Christina than she was at me and so did not come at me the way Christian’s hired thugs did.
She nods to the camera and raises her hand with her index finger raised.
Seleana Zdunich: The Metal Maniacs in a hardcore rules handicap match with my family banned from the building.
Her index finger is joined by a second finger.
Seleana Zdunich: Delia Darling’s grand return.
A third finger rises to join its brethren.
Seleana Zdunich: Jessie Salco trying to get herself back into the title pictures.
A fourth finger joins the others.
Seleana Zdunich: And now my wife attacking me just to try and get the chance at you that she could have gotten all by herself any time she wanted to as she has many times before. I cannot tell you why she did not believe in herself enough to trust her own abilities but I know I do and I always have but now I stand here before you have faced those four trials and I have come out the other side.
The hand closes into a fist.
Seleana Zdunich: Christian threw his fire at me and all it did was harden me up and make me ready to stand in against you for the Bombshells World Championship. I walk into that ring with you, Alicia, ready to go toe to toe with the best in the world and I am no longer simply trying to not get myself killed! I am no longer just happy to be there and just happy to avoid embarrassment.
She shakes her head, the fist seemingly clenching harder.
Seleana Zdunich: Christian and Christina have made sure we are passed embarrassment and now I wish to ram that vindication right back up where it came from with them. I will show you, Christian, Christina and everyone else that vindication is not the only thing tastes sweet and if you are not careful, I will show that I am ready to make that vindication turn to ashes in your mouth!
She nods, the first finally lowering as the shot tightens to frame her face.
Seleana Zdunich: My name is Seleana Zdunich and I am coming to claim my place, the place that everyone has always said I had no business even being in the same area as before. I am coming to to give you what you said you wanted and I am coming to show that sometimes, you should be careful what you ask for!
She nods grimly.
Seleana Zdunich: Kia kaha, Chickie, now let us go make Christian choke on those ashes together!
Sunday, February 10, 2019
Los Angeles, California
Zdunich Zoological Gardens
11:57 PM PST
Climax Control had finished earlier and Seleana Zdunich’s team had won with Seleana getting the victory personally over her wife, Christina “Crystal Hilton” Zdunich while their respective partners, Kate Steele and Jessie Salco, had each done their parts to try to win as well. As Seleana sits down at her desk wondering what she should do next, her phone chimes at her with a message. Seleana glances down and sees the namer at the top.
Christina Zdunich
She nods and clicks on the message to see what the woman could possibly want now. Two weeks on from the assault pushed on by Christian Underwood and one week from Seleana’s own retaliation, the match seemed to have helped pushed the toll on their relationship.
“...you beat me.”
Seleana stares at the message and frowns in confusion. Was this Crystal being upset and staggered that she had lost to her own student/wife or was this her having some other realization? Should Seleana be worried? Should she be angered? Before she can decide one way or the other, another message chime alerts her to a follow-up.
“go ahead rub it in tell me im worthless”
Seleana’s mouth falls open in shock. The real Christina was bleeding through the Crystal Hilton veneer. For all of Crystal’s supposed Hollywood trappings, for all of her supposed glamor, for all of her bravado, here was proof that it was all as painted on as the make-up she wore in her movies to change her appearance for a character. Seleana shakes her head as the chime goes of a third time.
“tell me i suck”
Seleana’s lips curl, annoyance creeping into the worry already there. This was Crystal trying to reassert her dominance and find a way to put the mask of arrogance back on. If Seleana told her what she was asking to hear, one of two things would happen and neither of them was good. Either Crystal would not, smirk and wave it around to show the world that she was not the bad guy because her wife, this supposedly sweet and loving thing that everyone thought of Seleana, was just as much of an arrogant bitch as she was and she could proudly proclaim herself the wounded party to the world while braying loudly about her impending title shot that Christian Underwood was paying her as a favor for attacking Seleana and giving him a way to actually hurt her for breaking his face all those weeks ago.
The other option was equally unappealing as it meant Christina would take the words to heart and do something drastic, opening up another Pandora’s box of questions no one would really wish to deal with. Seleana shakes her head and stares at her phone. What should she say to that? She pauses and looks up at the ceiling, pondering it all. What did she really think of her wife right now? She continues to think on this question for another couple of minutes, starting and then stopping and deleting a response three times before she finally settles on one and sends it off.
“And why would I do that?”
She sets her phone down knowing full well that the response will either wait for hours or there will not be one, per se, and the next message will just come in and act like nothing has happened in the interim. This was a favorite tactic though Seleana was unsure if it was really a tactic or just Christina being Christina about things.
Seleana Zdunich: Vad ska du göra nästa stjärna?
She sighs and sits down into her rather basic office chair. The others who worked here had been surprised that she had opted for the cheapest option instead of getting herself what amounted to an overstuffed leather throne of sorts but Seleana had thought all she needed was a small chair that could move slightly so why bother getting the big ostentatious showpiece when she wasn’t planning on showing anyone anything when it came to her office? She nods to the phone and then glances over to the small cot she’s called home for the last week and nods slowly.
Seleana Zdunich: Jag kommer att bli bra.
Slowly, she moves her gaze back over to her phone. There was no real surprise that there was no response to what she’d sent. This was normal operating procedure for Christina no matter what persona she was trying to put on for everyone else, especially when she knew she’d made a mistake. Sighing sadly, Seleana nods to herself.
Seleana Zdunich: Vi kommer att bli bra.
Her eyes close and she sits back in her chair, wondering how long it would be until she actually felt the truth of that statement. Would they really be alright? Would she? Or would Christian Underwood finally have his victorious bit of revenge and manage to break their marriage just for spite’s sake? Again, she nods to herself.
Seleana Zdunich: Så småningom…
How long would “eventually” be?
Monday, February 11, 2019
Los Angeles, California
Zdunich Zoological Gardens
10:11 AM PST
Seleana had been up for about an hour, making use of the shower facilities and making a morning meeting that none of her employees had expected her to be at. She had smiles for them and taken a seat in the back corner, remaining quiet as the meeting went on around her for the better part of forty minutes. She was pleased to see how well everything seemed to be running, not bothering to interrupt anyone and only lingering for a few minutes after to talk with the supervisor she had in charge of most of the day to day operations. The woman, an experienced operations manager named Tanya Marsh, was married to the snake handler and seemed to know ehr stuff. She’d quickly managed to cover her thoughts and questions with Tanya before returning to her home away from home to contemplate what she would do next. Not being booked on the next Climax Control and being on an off week in Galactic Women’s Wrestling as well was giving her almost what felt like too much time to sit and think on her current situation. Just as she takes her place in her office chair, her phone chimes at her. She looks down, hopeful it’ll either be zoo business or one of her two sisters, Zenna or Katra, or maybe even her stepdaughter, Brittany Williams, messaging to say hello as they all tended to do with regularity.
Christina Zdunich.
Seleana nods to the name and then pulls up the message to see which direction this would take. Would her wife try to pick up where they had left off the night before after Seleana’s victory over her or would she just act like they hadn’t left off in an awkward place at all?
“Haiiii hon its me CHRISTINA”
The answer actually made Seleana smile even as she shakes her head in slight disbelief. Even after a year of this, it still managed to somewhat surprise her when her wife just started a whole new conversation. The chime goes off again.
“Can I take you out for Valentine’s Day?”
Seleana’s jaw drops just as it had the previous evening. Was she serious? Seleana’s head flies back as she looks to the ceiling. What was she supposed to say to that, of all things? Before she can devise an answer, the phone chimes again. Seleana glances down and shakes her head again in stunned disbelief.
“?”
Was Christina seriously trying to push this now? What did she expect Seleana to say after what had happened? To attack your own wife just to get a title shot you have already proven you can get without extra help and then two weeks later act like they should be like the bad commercials for cards, flowers and candy on television was almost unthinkable and yet, here it was happening. Seleana stares at the phone, unsure of what to say back in response.
Seleana Zdunich: Jag…
She sighs heavily, still staring at the phone.
Seleana Zdunich: Vad säger jag?
Before she can answer her own question, the phone chimes with yet another message from Christina. Seleana looks down and cannot believe her eyes.
“Hey you love you i realize i got nothing left.”
Her jaw clenches as she almost throws the phone.
Seleana Zdunich: För fan i helvete! Din jävla idiot! Varför tänkte du inte på detta innan du angrep mig? Varför tänker du aldrig på sådana saker?
She drops the phone from only an inch above her desk and kicks the floor.
Seleana Zdunich: Skit också! Du jävla slog mig! Du vet att jag inte skulle ha gjort det mot dig!
She turns away, angry tears in her eyes.
Seleana Zdunich: Jag slog honom för dig!
As she sits there shaking her head sobbing, the phone chimes again. Seleana tries to pull herself together as she slowly turns around. She picks up her phone and stares at the fresh message.
“I dont know where to go from here but i wont hurt you no more… be safe.”
Seleana drops the phone and starts sobbing all over again, visions of what all that could mean dancing in her head. What could possibly happen next?
Tuesday, February 12, 2019
Los Angeles, California
Zdunich Zoological Gardens
10:02 AM PST
Seleana steps into her office and glances at the cot she had not used the night before. After spending several hours crying to herself in this very office, she had gotten herself up and gone over to a bar called Broken Promises run by friends of hers named Shay Kenyon and Lena Theras. The married couple lived in an apartment above the bar with their two nearly four-month-old twin daughters, Jami Hope and Destiny Joy, and Seleana had crashed there for the night when Shay had thought it a bad idea to drive back to the zoo in her emotional state despite being dead sober. As she sits down, her phone chimes and Seleana braces herself for another round. She glances down and sees it’s just a spam email about male enhancement products and deletes it, enjoying marking it as something the email host should take a look at as a phishing scam. A second later, she nods to herself and answers her wife.
“If Brittany and HayJo will be there, I will meet you all somewhere.”
The message ahd only be gone for a second before an answer comes back almost as if Christina had been sitting and staring at her own phone constantly since the previous morning.
“Thats not how a private v day works”
Seleana sighs. So now it was back to this. Seleana swallows hard. What should she say to this? She almost felt like this was an ultimatum without making the actual ultimatum. Her phone chimes again and Seleana looks at her wife’s new message.
“I need you”
Seleana sets the phone down and just stares at it. Christina was not going to do this to her today, not again. A second later, Seleana walks out of the room leaving the phone on the desk and marching out to the fresh air outside. Fifteen minutes later, she comes back to find a message left on her voicemail. Seeing it’s from Christina, Seleana contemplates erasing it for a second only to stare at the phone, seemingly unable to move a finger.
Seleana Zdunich: Vad har du att säga?
Her finger continues to hesitate. Did she really want to know what Christina had to say? Finally, she presses the button and the message plays, the unmistakable sound of her wife’s voice comes back, crying as she does so.
Christina Zdunich: Please…
Christina’s voice stumbles, clearly sobbing as she does this.
Christina Zdunich: I’m sorry, ok! I fucked up and I know it! Is that what you want to hear? I NEED you! I don’t know what…
She trails off and sobs some more and Seleana closes her own eyes. This was no acting job. She’d heard a speech like this before when Crystal was just putting on a show and this was not that at all. This sounded like a broken child desperately searching for a hand to cling to.
Christina Zdunich: You know what…
Suddenly, the sound of Christina’s voice changes completely.
Christina Zdunich: Fine, don’t talk to me! Just… whatever! I’ll… whatever!
The message ends and Seleana shakes her head nearly throwing the phone again.
Seleana Zdunich: För fan i helvete!
She sets the phone down and just stares at it, anger creeping into her eyes.
Seleana Zdunich: Vad är fel med dig?
Stepping back, Seleana turns, shaking her head, and heads for the doorway again knowing full well she’s going back to Broken Promises tonight and this time she might even have a beer or two.
Seleana Zdunich: Din jävla…
A couple of hours later, Seleana is sitting at her desk when her phone chimes back at her again. Her jaw drops as she sees the name of her wife staring back at her. This was a change, especially after the message she’d left earlier that had sounded so final.
“I been contemplating suicide but farrah talked me out of it”
Farrah was Farrah Cornett, Crystal’s stablemate back in L.A.W. in the Boardwalk Angels. Seleana always called Farrah “Mama Red” as she was very nearly Seleana’s mother-in-law in the months before she’d been introduced to Christina by a mutual friend, another former Boardwalk Angel, current Hybrid Wrestling Unleashed Grand Champion Stacy Jones. Seleana knew given how Mama Red had reacted to the news of Christina’s betrayal that if she had actually called Farrah then this was not some idle threat. Seleana stares at the words and ponders what to do next. The chime interrupts her and she nods to the phone.
“i want to have a night with you is that so much to ask?”
Seleana’s head droops, her chin nearly colliding with her chest. This was Christina fighting through all the Crystal smoke and mirrors.
The REAL Christina.
Seleana exhales heavily and the chime greets her again.
“Please”
Knowing how proud Christina liked everyone to think she was, this was a major effort being made. Seleana stares at the phone and nods to herself.
“¿Dónde?”
With that one word, Seleana knew she’d taken a shot in the dark that could very easily blow up in her face. If she were wrong, this could lead to another trap and leave her in a position where the entire world would either be laughing at her for being so incredibly stupid or demanding answers for the exact same reason. It was a chance that people like Christian Underwood and Alicia Lukas would relish and probably use to tapdance all over her and yet, it was something else she’d heard another friend say that made her decide to trust her instincts even in the face of almost everybody else screaming that this was a Admiral Ackbar meme come roaring to life. Eavan Maloney, once Seleana’s sister-in-law and still somebody she considered a sister, had said that she had learned that Zdunich Women do not give up on people and this would be no exception, even if it turned out to be a mistake all over again. The chime sounds and Seleana looks down.
“ Wherever i need you and im so sorry”
Seleana nods. She would have to get in touch with Christina again tomorrow because this was likely to be the last word on the matter for today. She nods, hoping above hope that she hasn’t just made the biggest mistake of her life.
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
Los Angeles, California
Zdunich Zoological Gardens
10:59 PM PST
Seleana had spent the day waiting to hear back from Christina and was actually somewhat surprised she had not yet. Knowing the previous night had very nearly ended with her going to get drunk, she had decided to stay in tonight to get ready for Valentine’s Day tomorrow. Getting drunk was not a habit she wanted to pick up. Her younger sister, Zenna, had managed to remind her of this fact several times as had Zenna’s fellow recovering addicts, Eavan Maloney, Zenna’s fiancée Linnéa Lacroix, and her cousin Alexi’s former tag team partner, Raevyn Lilja. She’d seen them all in New York City recently during the celebration for the birthday of the youngest Zdunich sister, Katra. , and they had all said the same thing to her: do not allow this thing with Christian and Christina to push you into habits like that, especially given the prevalence of drugs in Hollywood. In the year she had lived here, she had seen a fair amount of pills, powders and all manner of alcoholic beverages and she knew exactly how easy it would be to find a poison and lose herself into it the same way they all had and, in deed, the way Christina had herself earlier in her life. It had been no secret when Seleana had started dating Christina that alcohol had wormed its way into her as if she was a walking tequila bottle just begging for a refill and Seleana did not relish the idea of becoming that herself. Now, after putting in a full day’s work at the zoo and hearing nothing back, she checks her phone to make sure it has not had a problem. Satisfied that the device in working order, she nods and sends off a message to Christina.
“¿Dónde mañana?”
An answer comes back quickly, as if Christina had also waited all day for Seleana to make the first move this time.
“Sel you dont have to speak in spanish”
Seleana stares at the screen in momentary disbelief. Did she really think she was doing that just to be patronizing? Seleana had enjoyed learning Spanish and had always thought of it as something they shared. A further chime quickly interrupts her worry.
“Do you wanna sPend the day with me yes or no”
Seleana shakes her head, almost laughing now. The absurdity at times was always a little endearing even if Christina tended to go a little over the top at times with it. She nods and answers before anything further can really happen.
“Where do you wish to meet up?”
She stares at the phone hoping beyond hope Christina does not try and more Crystal approach and start making elaborate plans for surprise trips or something. That would not be a good idea and would be the fastest way to make Seleana regret answering this plea. The chime quickly kills the worried anticipation.
“Do you trust me”
Oh, this was not a good start. This sounded very, very Crystal and not in a good way. This sounded like something she would say before showing up in a limo and trying to start this private evening early. Another chime quickly edges up Seleana’s anxiety level.
“Sel?”
Seleana stares at her phone. Should she back out now or was that not an option anymore? Was this proof that everyone had been right to tell her to cut and run two weeks ago? Was there really nothing else to it than this? After standing in silence for a few minutes, Seleana tries a response.
“?”
She shakes her head, hoping the next message is not Crystal announcing she’s outside and wants this reunion to start now before it’s even really Valentine’s Day. Seleana could not imagine a worse idea than that. The chime announces she no longer has to wonder and she slowly glances down, holding out hope Crystal will not be as stupid as others have said she is.
“Happy V Day”
Seleana stares at her phone, the look on her face now as if this is the single strangest message she has ever received. Slowly she glances up and sees the time.
12:02 AM…
A small smile crosses Seleana’s face. Maybe there was hope for everything yet.
“Glad alla hjärtans dag.”
Thursday, February 14, 2019
Valentine’s Day
Los Angeles, California
Zdunich Zoological Gardens
9:15 AM PST
Seleana walks back into her office from the shower facilities and looks at her phone. The time was quickly approaching to answer which of them would make the first move. Would it be Christina? Or would it be Seleana? The answer would come even as Seleana was pondering what to do with herself while this question rattled around inside her brain with a message chime.
Christina Zdunich.
Seleana nods and quickly checks the message.
“Happy V Day”
A small smile crosses her face and she quickly punches in her answer.
“Glad alla hjärtans dag.”
She sits down on the office chair and quickly glances down ehr list of thing she needed to do and then punches in another message. No need to leave things hanging today. If they were going to go bad, best to get it over with quickly.
“What we do today?”
The answer comes back quicker than Seleana had anticipated.
“Romantic dinner”
Seleana nods slowly. If this was all Christina was going to go for, this might not be too bad after all. So long as she did not overreach, this might be…
A chime interrupts her train of thought.
“Massage session for two”
Seleana stares and the smile starts to fall slightly. She would have to inquire about whether this was to be therapeutic or the happy ending type usually bandied about in their neighborhood. That would definitely qualify as an overreach on Crystal’s part and torpedo things before they had a chance to even start to come back. Another chime quickly grabs her attention.
“Sel do you love me”
Seleana just stares in white-eyed wonder at this question.
Seleana Zdunich: För fan i helvete! Vilken typ av fråga är det här?
Shaking her head, Seleana regains her composure and tests the waters.
“When and where?”
The answer comes back and Seleana just stares again.
“Do you trrust me”
Now another alarm was going off inside Seleana’s head. What was Crystal planning with this? Before she can say anything, the chime tells her Christina must have had a moment of clarity as well.
“The limo will get you”
Seleana nods, knowing full well this could still be a major mistake but could she really take the chance the other way? Her instincts had served her well enough lately to get her on the company radar in Sin City Wrestling after nearly a year of trying. Was this really that different when it basically boiled down to business on some level anyway?
“Okej”
The message had barely been gone for a second when a chime announces an answer.
“DO YOU LOVE ME”
Seleana wastes no time in firing her answer back.
“Would I be upset at what you did if the answer was no?”
She stands in her office, glaring at her phone, fully expecting this to now turn into an argument that should not happen but will anyway because of Crystal’s self-described level of being high maintenance. A second later, an answer comes back.
“Ok.”
Seleana nods and sets about getting ready, not knowing what was really in store for her for the rest of the night.
Saturday, February 16, 2019
Los Angeles, California
Zdunich Zoological Gardens
11:30AM PST
Seleana walks into her office. The morning had been filled with getting ready to go to the next Climax Control even though she was not booked and was not even sure Christian would allow her into the building under those circumstances. She was going anyway just in case somebody asked her to do something else on the show. She did not want to give Christian the satisfaction of saying she had breached her contract by not showing up for work. If he sent her away, well, then it would be on him and she would simply chalk that up to his own level of enmity for her. As she set her gym bag down, her phone chimes at her and she glances to see who it could be.
Christina Zdunich.
She nods and then checks the message.
“hey youyuu”
She stares at the screen in stunned silence. It had been a full day since they had woken up next to each at the hotel and Seleana had watched Christina argue with herself before dumping out nearly an entire prescription of her medication and then threaten herself with a knife. Christina had then argued with herself some more before running out, apologizing as she went leaving Seleana standing there alone and confused. There had been no communication since then aside from Brittany telling her over the phone that her mother had returned home and seemed to be in a good mood. Another che and Seleana looks down trying not to remember how that particular meeting had ended.
“Enjoy Valentines Day”
Seleana shakes her head. She knew this was more a question than a statement and that this was Christina testing to see how far the previous morning had pushed things especially after there had been no sex involved to cap off Valentine’s Day. Cuddling yes, but no sex and that had been Seleana’s call, one that Christina had actually accepted without any kind of protest for once. Seleana nods to the phone and punches in an answer.
“Ja.”
She pauses, considering her next words carefully before punching in more of an answer.
“Until you pull knife.”
An answer chimes back quickly.
“Ty for coming.”
Before Seleana can even contemplate an answer, the phone itself rings. Seleana sees her wife’s picture and answers.
Seleana Zdunich: Ja?
Christina’s voice comes back, this time without sobbing being involved.
Christina Zdunich: When are you coming home?
Seleana can’t believe her ears. Were they really having this conversation?
Seleana Zdunich: I do not know.
Seleana can hear annoyance creep into Christina’s voice.
Christina Zdunich: Why not?
Seleana considers just hanging up but decides not to.
Seleana Zdunich: You need ask?
Christina almost scoffs. This would be Crystal talking more than Christina now.
Crystal Hilton: You can’t be mad at me forever, Babe…
Knowing this means she will be more combatice now, Seleana once again considers just hanging up.
Seleana Zdunich: You attack me for a title shot, tell the world I am weak and then try to guilt me into things by telling me you are suicidal and you have to ask why I am upset with you?
She pauses and then glares ahead at the wall of her office.
Seleana Zdunich: Look in mirror, Crystal!
For a split second there is silence between them. Then Crystal’s voice comes back again.
Crystal Hilton: Oh, come on! You know that was all business! That was all…
Seleana cuts her off.
Seleana Zdunich: All acting?
She can almost see her wife nod arrogantly in response.
Crystal Hilton: Damn good acting too! I should have won a fucking Oscar!
Knowing what’s coming, Seleana looks to the floor.
Seleana Zdunich: For acting like you are this or for acting like you actually care about something other than yourself?
Crystal’s voice returns, her level of annoyance audibly escalating.
Crystal Hilton: Are you serious right now, Babe? What the hell kind of…
Seleana cuts her off again.
Seleana Zdunich: Nej! Sluta prata! Du har pratat tillräckligt!
Crystal sighs in annoyance.
Crystal Hilton: English, Babe…
Seleana pounds her free hand on the desk.
Seleana Zdunich: ¡Hablaré cualquier idioma que quiera hablar!
Crystal’s voice comes back with slightly less bass in it.
Christina Zdunich: Ok… I’m… I’m sorry… I…
Seleana stares at the wall, not sure if she should punch it or run out of the place screaming as the voice on the other end suddenly transforms as if a mask has just been shattered into a million pieces.
Christina Zdunich: Please… come home…
Seleana steps back at the sound of Christina talking again.
Seleana Zdunich: Why would I want to do that when we will be scheduled to fight? Both Sin City and Galactic seem to enjoy exploiting our rather public spat.
Christian goes quiet for a second.
Christina Zdunich: Where… have you… been…
She stops short of finishing her question as if she is truly afraid of the answer. Taking pity on her, Seleana nods to the wall.
Seleana Zdunich: I have been sleeping mostly at the zoo.
Christina’s voice takes on a new sound of terror.
Christina Zdunich: Mostly?
Seleana nods.
Seleana Zdunich: I spent two nights over at Shay and Lena’s. I have not found somebody else to go and share my nights with that way. I know you worry of such things.
Christina’s voice starts to waver.
Christina Zdunich: Please? Come home?
Seleana looks to the floor again.
Seleana Zdunich: I…
Christina can’t take the possibility of the answer coming now.
Christina Zdunich: Please? We don’t even have to share a room! You shouldn’t need to go crash on friends’ couches to save money! I know you’ve been avoiding that, Sel, I’ve seen the credit statements! This is your house too, just…
She trails off, clearly about to break.
Christina Zdunich: Take one of the other…
Seleana takes this in and listens as her wife starts to quietly cry.
Seleana Zdunich: I will consider… there are others who are involved as well.
Christina's voice wavers more.
Christina Zdunich: I missed you... do you want us to get counseling?
Seleana shrugs.
Seleana Zdunich: You think will do good or you think Crystal stop it from helping?
Christina’s voice comes back sounding like she’s been punched in the gut repeatedly.
Christina Zdunich: I... Let’s do it.
Seleana nods slowly.
Seleana Zdunich: I will see you at the show tomorrow and we will discuss it then.
Christina Zdunich: Ok…
The call ends and Seleana shakes her head. What else could be coming now?
On-Camera
Friday, February 22, 2019
Los Angeles, California
Zdunich Zoological Gardens
Office of Seleana Zdunich
6:30 PM PST
The camera opens to find Seleana Zdunich standing by her cot near the edge of the left wall in her office only a foot away from the bare desk that is covered in paperwork, a laptop computer perched on it and the small cheap office chair sitting in front of it. Seleana nods as the camera takes in her complete visage complete with blue jeans and a black American Murder Log t-shirt that reads, “Everything Burns” in stark white lettering over what looks like a growing anthropomorphic fireball.
Seleana Zdunich: Heya, how’s it?
She glances down to her shirt and then shrugs slightly even before she brings her gaze back to the camera. She nods slowly, still looking down.
Seleana Zdunich: This is an appropriate shirt for the situation, ja?
Looking up, Seleana can’t help but smile slightly.
Seleana Zdunich: Alicia speak of vindication and I know that taste well.
She nods slowly and then glances down at her shirt again, seemingly fixating on the fireball.
Seleana Zdunich: I thought I was standing up for my wife and Christian Underwood saw fit to send me away. I was brought back and he threw several plans at me and I thought I had achieved vindication when he was unable to beat me or break me or put me down like the dog he think I am. He call my wife much worse and he treat me like how he speak of my wife and yet…
She looks back up to the camera and nods pointedly.
Seleana Zdunich: I am still here. I am still employed by Sin City Wrestling and not only has he not crushed me like the angry fist of God, but he has seemingly accomplished the opposite as I have risen in the ranks because of his attempts to punish me.
She pauses to shrug, looking just off to the right of the camera.
Seleana Zdunich: I would call that vindication, ja?
She nods as she brings her gaze back to the camera’s lens.
Seleana Zdunich: But that sweet taste, and it did taste sweet in the moment, it turn to ashes as fast as it come. Plan C reared its head and all that sweet vindication went crashing to the floor in a matter of seconds and I know there are some who would say I should have considered Crystal Hilton assaulting me as yet more vindication because Christian had to stoop to calling my own wife and someone he does tend to get along with to get to me and even that has not worked completely but…
She trails off, looking down to the floor again.
Seleana Zdunich: I would be lying if I said it did not get to me.
Looking down, she starts ton nod slowly.
Seleana Zdunich: It is is true, it got to me just as it is true that, as Alicia said, I have not done well in my previous championship opportunities. I have had several and I have yet to win one which, vindication for her, I suppose, ja?
Looking back up, Seleana nods some more, her head moving ever so slightly as if she can hear the voices from outside saying certain things.
Seleana Zdunich: I had one championship opportunity in L.A.W. alongside Christina against what was the best tag team in the world at the time, the Boardwalk Angels. They were on a winning streak the likes of which Alicia can relate to because it was like hers in Honor Wrestling. Christina and I were given an opportunity, one I admit I was not ready for as my career was mere months old at the time. I expected to be destroyed by Farrah Cornett and Zoey Madigan-Star as they both had far more experience than I and they were an incredible team with more chemistry than I had ever had with anyone. They should have destroyed us…
Seleana’s head stops moving as she looks dead into the camera.
Seleana Zdunich: Vindication visited me that night when we were not only not destroyed, but nearly dethroned the undefeatable that night. The taste was sweet but then turned bitter because while it was a moral victory, as many will point out, moral victories do not pay bills.
A small smile graces her features for a moment and then fades away.
Seleana Zdunich: L.A.W. closed and Christina asked me to join her here and in the year or so that I have been here, I have been afforded multiple opportunities to become Bombshell Roulette Champion. I was not ready for those in the same way i was not ready for the match with the Boardwalk Angels. Many dismissed me as being someone who was only treading as far as my more famous family members’ names could take me. Crystal Hilton, Brittany Williams, Robbie Priest, Linnéa Lacroix, Haylie Jo Annis, Amy Rae Annis, Kendra Goganious, they are all related to me or will be sometime in the future as things appear and they have all been champions. Some took longer than others to attain that status and some have done it more often than others, but they have all achieved championship standing and I…
Trailing off again, she shakes her head sadly.
Seleana Zdunich: I have not been so fortunate. I will admit right now, the first nine months or so of my career, I was not so focused on anything but being able to step into the ring and not get myself killed. I did not seek the glory and honor of being a champion despite being given the opportunity several times and perhaps that was a mistake but it is one I can freely say was my own and no one else’s. I was not ready and I did not believe myself ready to challenge another in the ring. I was happy to be there and I was happy to not embarrass myself as I learned and now I suppose vindication comes to me in the form of this championship opportunity. Alicia Lukas says I deserve it because of my hard work and because of all I bring to the table and I suppose that stands as vindication for me as well given how many others have said quite the opposite over my relatively short career in this sport.
She nods to herself and looks to the ground again.
Seleana Zdunich: Vindication does taste sweet, ja Alicia?
She nods again and continues to look down before looking at the fireball on her shirt again.
Seleana Zdunich: You have stated you wish to make that Bombshell Championship something more than the others who have held it and treated it poorly. I say that is a worthy aspiration to carry. You are a worthy champion and one I will not denigrate for taking more than one attempt to capture it because it is the journey that makes the championship worthwhile. You say I choke away championship opportunities while all you do is win and I cannot argue with that assessment aside from I still managed to get them even as a rookie who did not know what she was doing. Despite taking the lumps and losses I did, I still managed to stay around and grow and now I stand in airt I have never breathed before.
She looks up and nods to the camera.
Seleana Zdunich: I have never before gained an opportunity at your championship, Alicia, and had I done so before now, I know I would not have been ready because I had not yet been tested the way I have been now. Before I punched Christian Underwood, I had never tasted true danger in that ring. I had never really been placed in a situation where someone wanted to do to me what he wanted done. Maria Salvatore was the closest to that ever before and even then she was more angry at Christina than she was at me and so did not come at me the way Christian’s hired thugs did.
She nods to the camera and raises her hand with her index finger raised.
Seleana Zdunich: The Metal Maniacs in a hardcore rules handicap match with my family banned from the building.
Her index finger is joined by a second finger.
Seleana Zdunich: Delia Darling’s grand return.
A third finger rises to join its brethren.
Seleana Zdunich: Jessie Salco trying to get herself back into the title pictures.
A fourth finger joins the others.
Seleana Zdunich: And now my wife attacking me just to try and get the chance at you that she could have gotten all by herself any time she wanted to as she has many times before. I cannot tell you why she did not believe in herself enough to trust her own abilities but I know I do and I always have but now I stand here before you have faced those four trials and I have come out the other side.
The hand closes into a fist.
Seleana Zdunich: Christian threw his fire at me and all it did was harden me up and make me ready to stand in against you for the Bombshells World Championship. I walk into that ring with you, Alicia, ready to go toe to toe with the best in the world and I am no longer simply trying to not get myself killed! I am no longer just happy to be there and just happy to avoid embarrassment.
She shakes her head, the fist seemingly clenching harder.
Seleana Zdunich: Christian and Christina have made sure we are passed embarrassment and now I wish to ram that vindication right back up where it came from with them. I will show you, Christian, Christina and everyone else that vindication is not the only thing tastes sweet and if you are not careful, I will show that I am ready to make that vindication turn to ashes in your mouth!
She nods, the first finally lowering as the shot tightens to frame her face.
Seleana Zdunich: My name is Seleana Zdunich and I am coming to claim my place, the place that everyone has always said I had no business even being in the same area as before. I am coming to to give you what you said you wanted and I am coming to show that sometimes, you should be careful what you ask for!
She nods grimly.
Seleana Zdunich: Kia kaha, Chickie, now let us go make Christian choke on those ashes together!