Rayven loved submissions.  Sadie had given her the opening and Rayven seized it, wrapping herself up around Sadie’s body and then, slowly forcing the woman to her knees.  Rayven felt it all, the pressure on Sadie’s elbow and shoulder.  The knee, the neck.  The back,  She felt it all.

 

And she loved every second of it.

 

To know the control she had over Sadie.  The fact that the woman was entirely and completely at her mercy.  The moment when she felt Sadie’s head nod, submitting and calling for the match to end.

 

It was orgasmic.  Literally.  Rayven had very nearly literally gotten off on the sensation,  She had, however, avoided that potentially embarrassing situation.

 

But, forgetting for the moment potentially sadistic kinks, The main thing was, Rayven had successfully defended her title.  One down.  Four to go.  She had just finished her shower and it was time for her post match ritual.  

 

The camera came on as Rayven went live.  She sports a Bad Company hoodie and nods.  “Well wow!  What a match, huh?!  First off, big props to Sadie Graves.  I expected a hell of a fight based on her rep and she certainly brought it.  Definitely one of my toughest fights yet,  Tonight was my night but keep an eye on her.  She’s going to be a champion in CWF at some point.  But for now, I’m still Valor champ and now I’m 4 more wins away from a shot at any title I want.  Stay tuned because it’s going to be a wild ride.  For now though, I have to move onto the next part of post match stuff.  See you all later!”

 

As it happened, the next part of post match stuff was eating.  You might not be aware of this, but fighting really works up an appetite.  Especially when you use an offensive style like Rayven did.  So, Rayven borrowed the ritual Abby used and swung by Subway on her way home, picking up a footlong sub, a bag of chips and a couple of chocolate chip cookies.

 

A short time later saw Rayven back in her hotel room, eating her sub and watching the film of her match with Sadie.  She took careful notes of what went right.  What went wrong and ideas on how to improve in future matches.  

 

A couple days passed before Rayven got the update of who was next on her list of title defenses.  Steve Murdock.  Big guy.  Texan.  Hardcore specialist.  This opponent would require the opposite strategy as Sadie had.  Sadie had been almost exactly the same size as Rayven and thus Rayven could make use of the fact that her father was one of the best technical wrestlers in the world and had passed a lot of that knowhow onto her and had been able to out-wrestle Sadie.  Steve Murdock would not work the same way.  Even if the man didn’t know a hammerlock from a wristlock, the sheer size difference between the two would mean he could toss her around like a ragdoll.  So, it would be back to her high tempo, hit and run offense.  She would have to stay moving and wear him down before moving in to finish him off.

 

On the surface, this match would seem to be an easy title defense.  But Rayven had seen Steve Murdock fight before.  Had watched him nearly win the Elite title from Valora on a few occasions.  The man was skilled and if you slacked off against him, he could make you pay for it.

 

So, Rayven knew she wouldn’t slack off.  She would approach this match seriously and prepare for it.  That left her with the question of how to do it.  Last cycle, she had taken the nickname for Sadie Graves and designed her promo around that.  Now she had to figure out how to keep the momentum up against Steve Murdock.

 

Unfortunately for her, Abby chose that time to arrive, with a somewhat concerned look on her face.  Yet, in her own style, the first words out of her mouth relaxed the tension and actually got a laugh out of her.  “So, I’m totally not playing into stereotypes here.. Well, I mean I guess I am but what I mean is.”  Rayven held up her hand.  “Get to the point, Abs.  I know you’re not a bigot.”  

 

“Right.  Those fucking claw machines?!  Totally a scam right?!  So it’s cool to use magic to level the playing field.”

 

Rayven laughed and shook her head.  “Yeah.  Totally a scam.  Usually you load the machine with prizes too heavy for the claw.  There are other ways you can rig those things.  Simple scam but boy does it bilk money out of the marks.  Why?”  Abby shrugged.  “I might have subtly used my magic to help a kid get a prize from one of them.  This touched off a debate between Akame and I about it.”  

 

Rayven shrugged.  “Well, you know that magic has to be properly disguised.  Normal humans by and large aren’t ready for the truth.  Harry Potter is cute because it’s perceived as fiction.  If the plebs find out how real it is.. Well back to the witch hunts and that’s no fun for any of us.  But I trust you know all this already and if you say you hid your use of magic, I trust you.”

 

Abby points at Rayven.  “Thank you!  Speaking of Akame by the way, heads up because umm she might have found out about us.  Oddly though, it seemed to bother her.”

 

Rayven nods.  “Uh huh.  Not surprised.”  Abby blinks.  “Huh?”  Rayven tilts her head.  “How are you both Lenan Sidhe and this bad at reading people?”

 

Abby puts her hands on her hips. “Alright smartass.  You’re so good at reading people.  Hit me.”  Rayven rolls her eyes.  “First off, thanks largely to her fight with my aunt, Akame likely doesn’t have the highest opinion of Bad Company right now.  Secondly, while I have magic and the like, I am still mortal so likely not the best choice for someone with your lifespan.  Thirdly, Akame doesn’t know me that well as we’ve only hung out a few times altogether and, brace yourself here, have you considered that she might be a bit jealous?”

 

Abby had been about to respond when she heard the final point and blinked in confusion.  “Jealous?  Why would she be jealous?”  Rayven tilts her head.  “She’s in the same boat as you are.  Immortal, or a lifespan long enough that it may as well be.  Her current boyfriend is likely in my category.  Will live a long time but not as long as she will kinda thing.  Now you mentioned she also took a mantle, right?”

 

Abby nods.  “Scathach.  Think Celtic version of Xena.. and maybe don’t tell Fi or Akame that’s how I described her.”  Rayven nods.  “And, if I remember correctly, she made some kind of vow when she took the mantle?”

 

Abby shrugs.  “Yes.  To protect me.  The last holder of the Lenan Sidhe mantle was murdered.  Akame wants to make sure history doesn’t repeat itself.”  Rayven lays back on the bed and nods.  “Uh huh.  Well.  She’s sworn to devote her life to protecting yours.  Even knowing that her oath binds her even if the two of you change and end up on opposing sides, which I think is a fairly common trope in Celtic mythology.  So.. sounds to me like maybe she cares about you.. In maybe a deeper way than she might be aware of.”

 

Abby gives Rayven a look and Rayven stands up.  “Think about it.  Think about the level of devotion it shows to swear to protect someone.  That’s not usually something just done arbitrarily.”  Abby thinks for a moment and tilts her head to the side.  “Well, I kinda told her I had a crush on her and she shot me down.  Said she doesn’t swing that way.  I just thought she liked friendship and such.”

 

Rayven nods.  “Sounds like you two need to talk, preferably before I have an angry Fae showing up with a big sword and bad intentions.”  Rayven says with a playful wink.  “Seriously.  Talk to her.  Figure out where you two stand and what you two want.  Everything else can go from there.”  Abby puts her hands on her hips.  “You really think she’s changed?”  Rayven shrugs.  “Why not?  You changed since you took your mantle, right?  Told me you were.”  “A lot more.. Ready for sex.  I’m told by the previous holders of the mantle that this is common.. Most Lenan Sidhe’s develop a, “

 

“Harem?”  Rayven says, sticking her tongue out.  “Hey you luck out with me.  I’m Roma.  I can be open.  My only rule is don’t lie.  I’d like to know who else you’re doing.  Outside of that, have fun.. But my point is that you did undergo changes since claiming the mantle.  So it’s only logical to assume Akame has undergone changes too.”

 

Abby nods.  “You have a point.  I’ll go see if I can track her down.  You have a plan for Steve Murdock?”  Rayven grins and nods.  “I think I have something for him, yeah.”

 

After Abby leaves, Rayven is finally ready to address her upcoming match and the promo kicks off.

 

As the camera comes into focus we see Rayven pushing up and placing a gravestone.  On the gravestone is written 

 

Title Defense 1: ‘The Final Girl’ Sadie Graves

 

Rayven glances at the camera.  “So.  One down and four to go.  Yes, I know the puns write themselves, a gravestone for Ms. Graves but the truth is I chose the gravestone motif because it’s that season.  My favorite season of the year.  So now, today we’re going to do a little DIY on how to deal with one Steve Murdock.”

 

The camera goes black and when it cuts back in, we see Rayven walking through a hardware store.  She has a trash can with a baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire, a kendo stick, a 2x4, staple guns and a bag of thumbtacks.  Rayven gestures to the can o weapons.  “Now, under normal circumstances, you would need all of these to deal with Steve Murdock.  He does tend to roll hardcore, after all.  But in a Valor title match, these toys are all illegal.”

 

Rayven walks away from the can of weapons and shrugs.  “So no weapons.  This means we once more ask the age old questions of youth vs. experience and strength and technical wrestling vs. a high tempo offense.”

 

Rayven turns down an aisle and enters an area with different options for a game room.  Dart boards, pool tables, and the like.  “Now, experience is an open and shut case, right?  I mean how do I compete with someone who has been there and done that?  Who very likely has been wrestling longer than I’ve been alive?”  Rayven shrugs.  “Simple.  The same way you can pull up a video on youtube to learn how to do some DIY stuff around the house.  I grew up in this business.  Watching first my father and more recently, my aunt, wrestle.  Learning how to do things as I grew up.  The results?  Speak for themselves.  My first ever singles match I defeated Dixie Clement.  Now, I won’t go match by match, but I have only one loss and that came to Abigail Dresden, former Conquest champion and it was a win she had to work for.  Oh, and there’s the fact that I won this.”

 

Rayven lifts up the Valor title and slings it over her shoulder and nods.  “And defended it against Sadie Graves, .  So while I’ve only had a few match, every match has been against legit people.  Plus Madd Morales.  Dixie Clement?  Maybe never really got on track in CWF but has a legit career outside CWF.  Abigail Dresden?  Already a legend who has made a name for herself already in CWF and is making a name for herself in FWA as well.  Sadie Graves?  Going to be a title holder in this fed and one of my toughest fights so far.”

 

Rayven continues walking through the area and keeps her eyes focused on the camera.  “So where do you fit, Steve Murdock?  Do you think that now is finally your moment?  That time when you stop almost winning titles and actually get your hands on one?  Or is it going to be the same old, same old?  Close but just short?”  Obviously, both of us have different feelings on that.  I believe I’m going to win.  Not slagging you off or considering this an easy match, but I know I can win because every fight I’ve been in so far has been tough.  You’re bigger than me.  More experienced than me.  Stronger than me.  But I’m faster than you.  I have better cardio.  Better conditioning. Oh, and you might be good, Stevie.. But..”

 

Rayven does a quick slight of hand where her hand goes from seemingly empty to holding two cards.  “But me?  I’m magic.  I’m gettin’ good vibes.. And those vibes are tellin’ me my run as champ is going to continue.  I know you feel different. You’re coming in to write your own fate and start your own title road.  But my project isn’t done yet.  See you in Baltimore.  Home of Edgar Allen Poe, and in honor of one of my all time fave authors…”

 

Rayven holds up her Valor title.  “Take a good look upon the belt.  The Belt that you want.  The belt that remains out of your reach and shall remain so.. Quoth Rayven, Nevermore.”  The screen fades to black