The camera fades in on a small stage area in what looks like a café, a single stage light shining on a familiar purple haired Vixxen. She’s wearing a purple and black Gothic Lolita style outfit, a black rose headband in her hair. Pre recorded piano music plays as Arella sings a slower song than she’d usually be heard singing, holding onto the microphone and its stand; the song a cover instead of one of her band’s songs.
Arella: Mother would tell me I was a pretty girl,
Then she would cry all night.
Nobody thinks that really they’re being cruel,
When they suggest that I should try to look like them
As if God loved the pretty ones best.
Damn ‘em all – I create my own perfection.
Damn ‘em all in the face of their rejection.
Damn ‘em all – this dog’ll have its day,
My garden’s full of pretty men who couldn’t stay away.
Notice the ones who all like to criticize,
Are the ones trying to hide.
Why would I sell my soul to be one of them?
Better to love the me within, behind the skin
I choose to be a Goddess inside.
She continues with the song, repeating the chorus, humming during the instrumental parts, the crowd sitting at the tables cheering and clapping when the song ends. Grinning at the response, Arella brushes a bit of hair back behind her ear before taking the microphone off its stand.
Arella: Before we wrap up here for the night, I’d like to take time to thank you all for being here, for listening to and watching my performance and showing your support, it really means a lot to me. As I’ve said to others in the past who support me, I really appreciate it when people do so, even if it’s just by cheering and applauding my performances. Others who support my actual job, my wrestling career, occasionally buy shirts and things, but that doesn’t mean I love them any more than the fans of my music, though some do both, which is great; but I love all my fans equally.
She pauses as a few people listening applaud the words, Arella laughing almost nervously before speaking again.
Arella: That song I just sang by the way is by a brilliant singer named Heather Dale. The song’s called ‘Medusa’ and I chose to sing it as I find the lyrics to be quite inspirational, telling you that you should be happy and love who you are instead of trying to be someone you aren’t. See I’ve always been different from most people I’ve met, always stood out from the ‘popular’ crowds, who always thought it necessary throughout my school years to isolate or bully me because I was dressed and even acted differently from them. I always told them the same thing when they offered to let me join them; that I’d rather be myself then be like them just to be ‘popular’. They always looked at me like I was crazy for not wanting to be one of them, like it was some sort of crime, but even when they picked on me for my choice, I still stuck with the decision to be me –seriously, why would I want to abandon my beliefs and self respect just to have friends who would have just laughed at me behind my back anyway?
She pauses again, some people nodding in agreement with her words.
Arella: My mother taught me to always believe in myself and what I believed in and I’ve always stuck by it, especially when it comes to working in the wrestling business… I hope you don’t mind me talking about it briefly if it’s not your thing… Like one of my wrestling idols, also fairly new to the business -a woman named Vitani Summers- I avoided going to the biggest wrestling company because of how they use their women as barely more than eye candy in their short one or two minute matches and endless love storylines instead of proper stories and feuds like the men get. Vitani was brave enough to actually turn down a job offer from them; I just applied straight for the company we both work at now to avoid the awkward situation of turning down a job with –I assume- better pay then what we’re getting, but less respect. I admire the fact that she turned down the extra money to do what I do, to be herself, as all those working for the Championship Wrestling Alliance do.
She pauses, moving to sit on the edge of the small stage beside the microphone stand.
Arella: Although having the money is nice, that’s never why I’ve done things, besides when I had a job to help pay for wrestling lessons, but that was to reach my actual goal of becoming a wrestler. I wrestle because I love it and the fans, just like I do shows like this because I love singing and performing for people like you; the money’s just a bonus. I’d be happy earning barely more than I need to pay bills and buy basic things because I’d still be doing what I love doing. Not only do I get to do that at the next wrestling show, a pay-per-view named Devastation, but I also get a chance to work with the CWA’s two strong, independent mothers; both kind, caring women who are capable of standing on their own. They both have a man in their life, but they don’t rely on them to fight their battles. I’m sure if a man pissed either of them off, they wouldn’t hesitate to kick the man’s ass.
The people listening laugh along with Arella before she continues.
Arella: Anyway, like all the other women in the CWA, they can stand up for themselves and each of them have their own unique style and all be themselves; even the one blonde we have isn’t a typical ‘blonde’. She’s a fun-loving country girl who loves her family and has followed her dream despite people always getting in her way and telling her she can’t, or shouldn’t, do something. She always stands up for what she believes in and she’s smarter and stronger than she looks…and than people give her credit for... I haven’t exactly been fair to her in the past though, criticizing her for showing affection for her husband on TV. I really do admire each of the other women on the show despite what I’ve said about them showing affection for others… I suppose in a way I was a little jealous that they actually have someone to do that with. Each of the Vixxens as we’re called have their own talents and are all strong and beautiful in their own ways and I wish that I could face those I haven’t yet. Even those who are around but aren’t in the match with myself and the other two deserve a shot at the Vixxens’ championship… I guess having all of us in the match would be a little chaotic though.
She smiles and gets back to her feet, placing the microphone back on its stand.
Arella: So my point is that if you know it’s right, stick by your beliefs and don’t stop doing what makes you happy just because some fool doesn’t like it. Oh and thanks again for being here to support me and my band. Before we finish up for the night, we’ll play one last song as a thank you.
The crowd cheers and applauds the speech as lights come on behind Arella, the boys from her band standing ready to play. Arella grins and turns to give them a thumbs up before they being performing their song ‘Up in Flames’, the song Arella uses as her entrance theme.
Arella: I don't wanna say what I got on my mind,
'Cause nothing tonight wants to come out on time.
The truth is I'd rather sit out and unwind,
Let somebody else tell their story this time.
I wonder what happened to give me the right,
To step on a platform and pick up a mic
And tell you the way to be living your life
'Cause all my credentials were lies.
You've had your say, now take your seat,
I know my place, you don't know me.
I'll probably end up in flames before the end of the night,
Watch me burn in the fire, watch me bid you goodbye.
Your words fall right off the page like they fall on deaf ears,
You know that it's over, nothing left for you here.
I waited too long, letting people like you tell me what they want,
And what I shouldn't do.
So mark me with words, but you can't tie my hands,
There's nothing I'll say to make you understand.
I know who I am, I know where I'll end up:
In flames & that's fine 'cause I'm finally fed up.
Stick with what I started, don't care how it hurts,
The loudest get shot, at the worst.
You've had your say, now take your seat,
I know my place, you don't know me!
The band continues playing, the crowd cheering as Arella sings and dances along with the song, the camera fading out as Arella pauses to brush a bit of hair out of her eyes, the grin on her face showing she’s having fun, enjoying what she’s doing.