L.A.W. - League of Anime Wrestling

As Snow entered the locker room, the sounds of the crowd and the ring faded, replaced by the soft murmur of the other wrestlers and the hum of the lockers.

Raquel walked to her locker, her gaze still hidden behind her hands, and slowly began to open it. The click of the latch clicking was a welcome respite from the chaos outside.

Snow felt that Raquel was drowning in her own failures, as if suffocating under the weight of her own expectations. "Hey, Raquel, wait," Snow called softly and gently, trying not to startle her. She'd been walking behind Raquel, trying to give her space, but now she felt a pang of concern for her partner. Snow had been in Raquel's shoes before and knew what it felt like to suffer a brutal defeat.

"Hey, it's okay," Snow said quietly, moving one hand to her side, as the painkiller didn't seem to be enough to ease the pain. "It was a really harder match, actually... You had me on the ropes several times." She took a step closer, her gaze fixed on Raquel, searching for some sign of recognition, of acceptance.

Raquel just wanted to be left alone. She just wanted to leave the arena and then figure out what came next. As she was sitting there in her gear as the woman who just beat her spoke. Raquel just let out a sigh as she sat there still staring straight ahead at the lockers. "Listen, I get what you are trying to do. I appreciate it." Raquel said. "I blew it at the end again. We are all here to win, and you are the one who did what she had to do so congrats. Can I just get some space right now?" Raquel said as she kept looking forward.

Snow froze for a moment, her words dying on her lips as she processed Raquel's request for space. Snow's expression softened, and she nodded slowly. "You don't have to beat yourself up over this. We had a great match, and you gave it your all—that's all anyone could ask for." Snow's voice was gentle but firm as she tried to convey a message of support without being intrusive. "Anyone can go through a rough patch and get through it. You will too... But I just want to know, what's the real problem?" Snow said, with her voice a little strained from the effort of holding in her words.

Raquel just shook her head. So much for being left alone. She let out a sigh and then looked warily at Snow. Raquel took a deep breath and then finally answered.

"What is really bugging me? How about the harder I try the more I lose and keep getting overlooked? All these little waify bimbos get the attention for wrestling maybe a handful of matches while I give so much more only to get nothing." Raquel said as she stood up and opened her locker. "I am just done with it all."

Snow's expression softened somewhat. “Actually, I've been here for much longer than just a couple of fights...” Snow said quietly, barely above a whisper. “Do you feel like your efforts aren't being recognized?” While Snow would agree that it was somewhat frustrating, it sounded more like an excuse than anything else. "Let me tell you something, Raquel. You're not special, if working hard guarantees success. All bricklayers or day laborers would be millionaires. The problem I see is that it bothers you that other people are more successful than you in certain things ‘without so much effort,’" said the actress, using quotation marks.

"If you just judge others by how they progress, you won't be able to get ahead... Look at me, I've been an actress since I was 10 years old, and I've had an easier path than many other people who wanted to get into the business. And now I'm also a model, voice actress, professional wrestler, etc. But don't you see that I'm doing so well despite all that?" Snow said firmly. “I took advantage of the opportunities I had, and they brought me here. Many would kill to be me. And I love what I do. That's why I came to fight with you, even though I'm in the middle of a controversy, and there are a bunch of paparazzi waiting for me outside... Because I love being a professional wrestler!” Snow moved a little closer to Raquel, until she was close enough to touch her skin. "Tell me, do you like professional wrestling or just the recognition it brings?"

Raquel just raised an eyebrow at Snow when she spoke. She may have heard the words Raquel said but the meaning seemed to have escaped her. "Good for you. I am glad you are on top of the world." Raquel said. She really just wanted to be left alone but Snow wasn't getting the hint.

"Maybe I like wrestling, but I also don't like being a fucking jobber and little speed bump for everyone else. That is all everyone ever said I would be and I have proven them right. I like wrestling but just showing up being bright and cheery despite looking like a chump like some third rate cartoon character who gets plot armor later on isn't realistic. Being told I couldn't succeed here and then proving all the doubters right is getting to me." Raquel said, her voice clearly showing more irritation than before.

Snow's expression softened and she took a step closer to Raquel, speaking in a more empathetic tone. "I know, you're tired of seeing yourself as just a jobber. But that sounds ridiculous coming from you, because from my point of view, you've done everything in the ring to beat yourself. You're really strong, and you have a whole future ahead of you to overcome this bad streak. Don't let your self-criticism turn into anxiety.“

Snow's gaze fixed on Raquel's, intense. ”I mean it. I love the wrestling, and I can recognize a good wrestler just by looking at her. Sure, some people have it easier than others, that's a fact. But giving up when you have the credentials to excel is a waste, For God's sake! You gave me a beating in the ring, you almost beat me. Do you seriously think that with a performance like the one you just put on, you should have hung your head when you left the ring?" Snow crossed her arms. "Or rather, do you seriously think I'm such a bad wrestler that you'd be embarrassed for be defeated by me, or anything else?"

Raquel just sat there listening and staying quiet. "I am tired of losing. It has nothing to do with you or anyone else. I am tired of doing everything I can to separate myself from the pack only to fall short all the time." Raquel said. She was expecting more of a lecture after opening her mouth again so she would be ready.