Post by BLISS on Jul 28, 2023 15:38:10 GMT
"Are you sure?" the girl asked, her voice quivering.
The boy leaned in, his blue eyes locking onto hers. "Look, I promise you it will work." he replied, trying to sound reassuring.
The girl's anxiety spilled out in a rush of words. "I'm pretty scared, you know, Fred. I get it—I do. I've been studying, I've been drilling, I've been lifting weights... but weights don't hit back."
Fred smiled, as if he had all the answers. "Have I steered you wrong so far?" he asked.
She hesitated before answering, "No."
"Exactly" he said, his voice growing in confidence. "So I'm not exactly going to be starting am now, I? Not when your health is at stake." The uncertainty in her eyes lingered. "Am I, Penny?"
"No. No, you're not.” Penny replied. A quick glance down to her shoes and an explosion of nerves in her gut. "Are you really sure I can do this? You can be honest."
"Honestly? I don't know." he mused for a moment. "But, mate, it doesn't even matter. The only thing that matters is getting your face and your message out there. I don't really give a shit if you lose as long as you don’t get hurt; the sponsors would probably prefer it that way — sympathy and relatability breed views, breed fans, and breed revenue."
Penny absorbed his words, grappling with the idea as Fred rested his hand softly on her shoulder. "What have I told you this whole time?" Fred reminded her.
“Brand over everything.” she whispered.
"Brand over everything." he replied.
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Introducing Penny Ryan, known in the lifestyle vlogging community as BLISS - a teenage middle-class perspective on life and its many whimsies from the heartlands of the liberal culture-hub of Northern England. With over two million subscribers, a partnership on Twitch, a following of ‘Huns’ (her own personal army of rabid super fans), a hoard of sponsorships in love with her uber-positive personality and now a burgeoning career in professional wrestling. Joined frequently by her gregarious best friend, Freddie Feather - the pair seek to conquer the world.
With love.
omgitsBLISS! In Oklahoma City, and a debut match in professional wrestling!
2,320,419 views.
195k likes.
Top Comment: It’s actually 47 future draft picks.
2,320,419 views.
195k likes.
Top Comment: It’s actually 47 future draft picks.
Penny sprawls on the edge of a dishevelled hotel room bed as the video begins, capturing her in all her unfiltered, raw morning glory. Her bed head, a wild tangle of dirty-blonde resembles a tornado just swept through, but she nonchalantly knots it into a messy bun atop her head. A pixie-like grin crosses her face as she gives the camera a too-enthusiastic-for-six-in-the-morning wave.
“HELLO HUNS! It’s a gorgeous Friday morning here in Oklahoma City, home of cows and like fifty-nine future draft picks. I’ve got here…”
She plucks a flaky almond croissant from the bedside table and gives it a nibble before setting it back down.
“A lush little morning snack before I head out to the-” she turns to the side and raises her voice. “-what’s the arena called Freddie?”
“The Paycom Center mate.” a voice with a toothbrush lodged in its mouth replies.
“The Paycom Center for a photoshoot where in just a few days time I will be making my professional wrestling debut! Oh my god. I’m legit so nervous it feels like I’m about to burst, but I just want you all to know that all your support has meant the world to me. Through this past year all my training updates I’ve been posting you’ve all been so lovely and supportive and I can’t thank you enough. Lots of people say it like, but I genuinely couldn’t have done this without you. There have been so many times where I’ve been on the verge of crying or just outright giving up but then I’d read all your encouragement and I’m like - how can I quit when I’m fighting for so many people?
I mean, I say fighting but I don’t plan on hurting anyone. Can you imagine? It’s not like I’m going to be sending someone to the hospital!” she laughs and takes another nibble of croissant.
“Anyway! Just to update you on what it’s going to be like during the show, called ‘Bible Belt Beatings’ for anyone watching who hasn’t seen any wrestling before - for all my younger fans who might be watching this I’ve got a bit of a disclaimer for you that I really would love you to follow. Any parents watching this too, if you can pay attention to the show on Monday night, which is part two of a two-nighter there is going to be a match called-” Penny pauses for a moment as she reads from a piece of paper sitting on the bed next to her.
“A ‘Glass Jaw Match’ where the stipulation is, and I quote: "Both competitors wear helmets made of thin glass – smash that shit into your opponent's face and leave some scarred."
Please, please make sure no young children are watching during that match. Anyone with triggers of glass, facial mutilation or helmets please switch over during that match. Thank you. However earlier on that night there is going to be something called a-” she regards the paper again.
‘Fairy Tale Ending Match’ which is a battle in some enchanted woods - how bloody quaint! Please invite all your children to come and watch this, I can’t wait to see what magical sort of creatures appear. Pixies, Sprites, Will-o-Wisps, Fairies and Goblins? I’m proper excited, so fans of The Last Unicorn, The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth get ready for some popcorn-worthy shenanigans for this one because it’s going to be cute as heck and not violent in the slightest.” Penny finishes the croissant and scoots back on the bed.
“Anyway! I’ll be back later talking about how my night is looking and what to expect from BLISS! Stay safe. I love you all, and remember - you matter.”
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Freddie Feather stepped out of the bathroom clad only in a towel just as his best friend bid her audience farewell in her video. Her unwavering enthusiasm, given the imminent circumstances, was borderline ludicrous. He wrapped the towel tightly around his lower body, observing the girl before him, towel-dried mop of brown hair flopping to one side of his traditionally handsome clean-cut face. The idea of venturing into professional wrestling had first seemed like a drunken whimsy, a product of the Whitley Neill's influence. But now, as he watched her, he realised this was Penny speaking from the heart, genuinely meaning every word when she said, 'Let's give it a go.'
'Let's give it a go.'
"You had me reaching out to that fuckin' Casanova English on 'Let's give it a go.'" Freddie thought to himself, his mind filled with worry. "And now here you sit, without a care in the world, days away from potentially getting really, seriously hurt."
The weight of their reckless decision settled upon him like an anvil. He knew he played a part in enabling this madness, but seeing Penny's unflinching determination made him uneasy. Wrestling wasn't just some fancy game; it was a brutal, unpredictable world where people could get hurt — badly.
He wanted to shake her, make her see the danger, but her resolute smile made him doubt himself. It always had. She was fearless, and it frightened him.
As Freddie stood there, trying to wrap his head around the gravity of their situation, he couldn't help but wonder if this foray into wrestling would be the making or breaking of her, of them. The Whitley Neill's allure was long gone, and the reality of their choices loomed ominously ahead in the avatar of Matthew Knox.
“Mate” Freddie sat on the bed next to her. Penny turned to him, the same carefree smile on her face.
“Pal” she responded.
“Look, I’m going to be serious with you here.” he took a deep breath. “I know what I said on the plane over, about-”
“About my safety.” her smile disappeared. “You’re the one that made this happen Freddie. You brought up wrestling, you brought up CU:LT, you reached out to that horrid bloke, you’re the one who sealed my contract here and now you’re sitting next to me and you’re the one who’s scared. Well let me tell you Freddie, I’m fucking terrified.” tears began to glaze her eyes. “Did you know that it’s a bloody tournament? It’s a two-night bloody tournament; I need to win three matches. That’s three more matches than I’ve ever even had.”
Freddie scooted over on the bed, putting distance between the pair. “Pen, look it doesn’t matter. You don’t have to push yourself, as soon as you feel like it’s too much just, I dunno, roll out of the ring and get counted out or something.”
“That’s your solution is it? Get counted out?” Her voice began to shake with emotion. “I’ve worked so hard just to roll out of the ring and get counted out. Great plan Fred. Really, you’re a fucking genius. No, I’m not getting counted out.”
Freddie raised his voice in defiant response. “Then what Penny? Then what? Do you even know who you’re fighting? The bloke is a killer, maybe even literally, I don’t know - but this isn’t an opponent you dance about the ring and smile at and think everything is going to be okay because you’re ‘BLISS’.”
“Then what? I’ve poured my heart and soul into this, I don’t know what you’ve been seeing - the bank balance probably. I actually give a shit about this, I actually care. I’ve put the work in, I’ve sacrificed and I’ve dedicated my life this year for this one moment. What do you think I’m going to do Fred?” Penny paused.
"I’m going to win.”
She cupped his face with her hand and the smile returned. “Winning helps the brand Fred. Remind me, what is it you say?”
“Brand over everything.” he whispered.
“Brand over everything.” she replied.
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omgitsBLISS! Speaks on CULT:TV Tournament.
Unlisted.
1 view.
Unlisted.
1 view.
“HI HUNS! Welcome back, I told you this video would be coming out and I don’t like to disappoint you my loves. So what we have coming up in my world is not something I really anticipated but your girl has been entered into a bloody tournament; it’s a tournament where the winner can have a chance at winning the CULT Television Championship. God can you bloody imagine, a champion in like my third professional bout? What say you lovelies? Do you think we can do it?
Lissie Hope
Adrienne Beaufort
Kilroy
Sunshine The Dragon
Salem Whitlock
Ace Sky
These people probably don’t think so. Why would they? All absolutely outstanding wrestlers in their own way, each with their own special wonderful - albeit very strange - personalities. I’d love to speak to each and every one of you in depth about so many things. I’m getting a little giddy thinking about it if I’m honest. Lissie is the biggest reason I’m even in this position, as a young girl getting into wrestling you’re absolutely my inspiration…but anyway that’s by-the-by - HUNS give her a follow @hopelissie.
There’s only one name in the entire list of entrants that I’m concerned about. The only one I haven’t mentioned and the only one if I’m honest I really care about right now. I’m not spending money I haven’t won yet - everything I have and everything I am is focused right on you Matthew Knox.
This is a tournament almost made for you, isn’t it? I’ve been following your career a smidge and this is something almost crafted perfectly for the main event nearly-man. A trove of new, unproven wrestlers for you to handily dispatch and march on your merry way to a final with Lissie Hope. We all know the script, it’s how this is supposed to go. The first thing you need to know about me is I don’t cope very well with ‘should have’s’ and ‘supposed to’s’; to be more precise - they don’t cope very well with me.
I wasn’t great at school, I won’t amount to much. Why have I bought that cheap camera setup? I can’t expect to have anyone watch my videos. My whole life I’ve been told: you can’t and you won’t. You’ll take one look at me and think the same, I know it because I’ve known people like you my whole life.
But I can beat you, and I will beat you.
I am not here just to make up numbers Matt, I’m not here to lose and just be satisfied with my lot in life. The amount of work I’ve put in? I’m here to win, I’m here to turn my heroes and my inspirations into names on my record. You? You’re the only man in CULT who is defined by who they lost to.
You’re the best and worst of professional wrestling in one man. A great veteran who can have absolutely awesome showings against some of the biggest and best names in the business. You see ‘Matt Knox’ on the card and you know the match is going to be a near classic…and yet, looking at your skill set, looking at how bloody good you were, are - we should see ‘Matt Knox’ on the card with the words ‘World Championship Match’ above it and a little (c) next to your name. Is that ever going to happen? If you’re honest with yourself, you’d say no. But that right there is the reason it will never happen, you’re a man who just can’t escape his own demons. Writing himself letters as a half-hearted attempt at healing, but even then the crux of all your issues was painfully clear. Rather than heal yourself, you’d rather destroy yourself. You’d rather punch yourself in the face than say the words ‘I’m sorry’. I’m just here to let you know…it’s not too late, it’s never too late to change. It’s never too late to become a better person, there is one inside there. I want you at the end of your life to have your children be able to properly say goodbye to their Dad rather than looking at him surrounded by the empty corpses of his friends Jack, Johnnie, Jameson and Jim wondering ‘What if?’
Quoth the Raven: ‘What if?’
Matthew. You’re not going to be getting your dream final, you’re not going to be getting your mid-card consolation prize. That’s what this title is to you. To me? This is a damn dream. People have been enabling you for too long and this is where the healing begins.
Three matches in a row to become a champion in my first ever professional wrestling event? Is this something I can do? Is this something that’s even possible for me? I don’t know. Maybe, maybe not…
…but you can be goddamn sure I’m going to be beating you.