/forums/umma/p/277 on gopher.createaforum.com

	Return Create A Forum - Home
	---------------------------------------------------------
	UCC (UMMA) Managers Forum
	https://umma.createaforum.com
	---------------------------------------------------------
	*****************************************************
	Return to: Rampage Sports
	*****************************************************
	#Post#: 1845--------------------------------------------------
	Middle Management - Chapter 2 - Leveled
	By: RampageSports Date: July 30, 2015, 10:04 pm
	---------------------------------------------------------
	Middle Management - Chapter 2 - Leveled
	I found Elisha in the locker room later that evening. She was
	calmer, but definitely not happier. In fact, she looked totally
	dejected as I took a seat a few feet down the bench and watched
	her sullenly shuffle items in and out of her locker.
	She gave no indication she noticed my being there, which I
	assumed was intentional. The locker room was practically empty,
	so she had to know I was there.
	"So... tough day?" I said after a few minutes.
	"I don't need to be saved," she said curtly.
	"I know," I replied. "That's why I'm not in my hero outfit."
	Contrary to my typical approach to these things, I wasn't
	dressed for the cage. No gloves, no workout attire... none of
	that. Just a light green, sleeveless blouse over a pair of
	loose-fitting blue jeans.
	"That's a shame," she said. "I really feel the need to punch
	someone."
	"As much fun as that sounds, I don't think it's the best idea,
	right now."
	She sat still for a moment, likey considering how her last
	sparring session had ended.
	"You're probably right," she said with a sigh.
	Truth is, a little workout with Leesh probably would be fun,
	under normal circumstances. I have a soft spot for fighters
	like she and Tiz. They don't seem to have the natural abilities
	the greatest fighters have, but they have something special that
	let's them hang on. Leesh doesn't overwhelm opponents with her
	skill. She grinds them down and wears them out. She takes the
	hits, but she keeps coming. Sometimes, it almost seems like her
	foes just surrender, having grown tired of hitting a brick wall.
	Thinking about it now, I wondered why we hadn't sparred in the
	past. Though I've become an active part of the training at RSI,
	I spend the bulk of my time with the newer athletes...
	preferring to let the veterans work with their more experienced
	peers. But, I've tangled a time or two with some of those
	higher line fighters. I've just never gotten around to Elisha.
	Probably something we should rectify, once we got past whatever
	was going on with she and Britney.
	"What happened out there today?" I asked.
	She shook her head and said, "I don't really want to talk about
	it."
	I sat and waited. After a moment, she glanced at me out of the
	corner of her eye.
	"You're not going to leave, are you?"
	"Nope," I said.
	"Super," she said.
	We paused again while I waited for her to say something more.
	She didn't, so, after a while, I did.
	"You really think it's better if you and Britney split up?"
	"I think it's not working the way it is," she said.
	I wrinkled my nose.
	"You're right there at the top of the division," I said. "Both
	of you are."
	"Yeah, well... I don't know how that could be," she said.
	"Neither of us seem to be able to win when we need to."
	Her voice had a strange mix of disgust and resignation. It was
	especially odd coming from Leesh, who, in my experience, had
	never resigned herself to anything. You put a barrier in her
	way, and she'd kick it down. Sometimes, she kicks things just
	for fun.
	"Look, I know this isn't the way you wanted to come back from
	your injury. But, come on... you're still in this thing."
	"Whatever."
	"So, you've had some tough losses. Losing to Britney and Malin
	is not exactly an embarrassment. You did well against
	Ellingson, and you're probably going to get another shot at her.
	You just need to keep at it."
	"I guess," she mumbled.
	I was starting to feel like I was talking to Steph.
	"Are one and two word answers all I'm going to get from you?"
	"I'm just sick of this!" she shouted. "Sick of it!"
	Okay. That was more than I was looking for.
	"Woah... easy Leesh."
	"How many title shots is she gonna get?" she snapped.
	"She... what?"
	"Britney," she said. "How long can she keep going on like
	this?"
	The sudden shift in topic left me so disoriented, I felt like a
	cartoon character trying to stop my eyes from rolling around
	like marbles.
	Elisha, meanwhile, was suddenly full of the fire and passion she
	was known for.
	"This makes three," she said. "Why can't she get over the hump?
	She's good enough, right?"
	"Well, she's... Yeah. She's good enough."
	"Then, what's the f*cking story?"
	"What are you talking about? Akerman. Vandervoort. Kroes.
	She's beaten them all."
	"But not for the title."
	I shrugged.
	"When you're competing on that level, you're gonna lose, Leesh.
	She just hasn't had the right timing."
	"So, that's it? Bad timing?"
	"Yes," I said. "She's won tournaments and special events.
	She's won tough fights for her team. She comes through all the
	time. So, we know she can. It just hasn't come together in
	these title fights. What else could it be?"
	"I think she needs to change up her training."
	"You mean switch training partners."
	"Yeah."
	"Oh, get the f*ck outta here," I said dismissively. "You two
	are great for each other, and you always have been. There's no
	one that's going to help her more than you."
	"Well, then find someone," she said, "because I'm not doing it,
	anymore."
	She stood up to leave, but I spun over the bench and blocked her
	path.
	"Leesh, this is nuts," I said. "I know you're pissed off, but
	this is not the answer."
	She tried to step around me, but I cut her off.
	"Stay here and talk to me," I pleaded.
	"I'm done talking," she said coldly. "Now get out of my way."
	We were face to face as she glared at me, and I was reminded of
	the last time she had looked at me that way.
	After Elisha had suffered a difficult injury in a bout between
	she and Britney, I had called her in with the intention of
	letting her go. Injuries were bad enough to deal with, and I
	didn't have the stomach to handle one RSI fighter injuring
	another. I was new to ownership, and I thought I could avoid
	the possibility of such a thing happen again. I know better
	now, but that's beside the point.
	Leesh had hobbled into my office on one foot, and the
	conversation had gone south in a big hurry. Once she'd leveled
	those icy blue eyes at me, they stayed locked on. Britney
	eventually intervened, and we worked everything out amicably.
	Which was good, because I remember thinking that carrying out my
	original decision was going to require physically throwing Leesh
	out of the building, booted foot and all.
	So, I knew we had two choices as to where things went next in
	this little stand-off.
	I brought my hands up, palms facing out.
	"Fine," I said quietly as I stepped aside.
	She looked at me for another moment, then moved briskly out of
	the locker room.
	I dropped heavily back down onto the bench.
	So much for my magic.
	Maybe it only works when I hit someone.
	[hr]
	Character Reference
	https://aade768506dacb303a01a361d3dc0d27209a5ec4.googledrive.com/host/0Bz8YsEjM…
	Name: Richelle Winterfeld
	Nickname(s):
	Background: Owner of the RSI stable, former underground fighter
	https://aade768506dacb303a01a361d3dc0d27209a5ec4.googledrive.com/host/0Bz8YsEjM…
	Name: Danneel Harris
	Nickname(s): Danni
	Background: RSI stable leader, reigning DEF welterweight
	champion
	https://aade768506dacb303a01a361d3dc0d27209a5ec4.googledrive.com/host/0Bz8YsEjM…
	Name: Britney Spears
	Nickname(s): Brit, Queen B
	Background: Team leader of Britney's Brutal Beauties, DEF
	middleweight contender, training partner and close friend of
	Elisha Cuthbert
	https://aade768506dacb303a01a361d3dc0d27209a5ec4.googledrive.com/host/0Bz8YsEjM…
	Name: Elisha Cuthbert
	Nickname(s): Leesh
	Background: Team leader of Leesh's Lethal Ladies, DEF
	middleweight contender, training partner and close friend of
	Britney Spears
	https://aade768506dacb303a01a361d3dc0d27209a5ec4.googledrive.com/host/0Bz8YsEjM…
	Name: Stephanie McMahon
	Nickname(s): Steph
	Background: RSI's fighter development coordinator, reigning SCQ
	super heavyweight champion
	https://aade768506dacb303a01a361d3dc0d27209a5ec4.googledrive.com/host/0Bz8YsEjM…
	Name: Ashley Tisdale
	Nickname(s): Ash, Tiz, Blondie Girl, Sharpay
	Background: ESL bantamweight contender
	*****************************************************