(III) Who are you?

The bright lights in the arena blind Beatriz Lótus as she lies down on the mat, defeated. Isabella Almas has taken the Rising Star Championship before the youngster had any time to get used to it. A moment of glory that felt so rewarding, a brief look at how it felt to be above the competition, it all ended so quickly. Once she did capture that championship, Lótus couldn’t win again. Maybe the stage was too big. Maybe the lights, as they are right now, were too bright. As she has done many times in her short CMV career, Lótus went the whole way but couldn’t finish. And only she knows just how much that eats her up inside.

Once the barrage of attacks from Tailcoat Val’s pupil can be shaken off, Beatriz walks to the back as some fans make sure to applaud her efforts, but that doesn’t satisfy her. She knows that, like every other time, she’ll fall back into obscurity after tonight. Her one chance to get everybody’s attention was squandered. As she gets in the locker room, she’s met by a familiar face.

Beatriz tries to get her head in this and just stares blankly at her… friend?

Before she can muster up any answer to Violet’s sharp questions, memories come back to her. Memories that she had buried once she started her career.

With her hand on the doorknob and a heavy backpack, she gets ready to leave. The strong rain from the outside starts to make it in when a voice makes her stop and turn around.

She sighs, but decides to retort.

??? gets closer as she backs up, halfway out the door already.

The door slams. She heads out, muttering to herself.

Lótus snaps back to reality. Apparently Almas gave her that bad of a beating. She goes to sit down when she sees Yvonne Ivy to Evans’ side.

She remembers the way that Otranto became a family. One that she needed in an unfamiliar place.

Beatriz jumps from the top rope for the Hangover, but she misses the rotation and falls back first. Trainers go to assist her, she shrugs them off. Many, many mock matches follow suit and she eventually lands the move successfully. Later, after a long day of training in CMV’s facilities, she heads to catering. There, she’s approached by two women.

Beatriz stands puzzled as she gets offered a handshake, which gets accepted awkwardly.

She lets out a smile, but stays a little skeptical. Could that ever work out for her?

Lótus stands up, nodding her head weakly. She looks Ivy in the eyes, before finally opening her mouth.

After Mob Violence, Otranto reunite in the locker room. Beatriz Lótus accomplished a record 6 eliminations in the Royal Rumble match, sending as strong of a message as you can without winning the match itself. All of Otranto had a successful night. Lótus and Ivy are the current Women’s Tag Team Champions in their second reign after getting the titles back from Ally Cage and Jade Dynamite. Violet made it to the last few participants, eliminating a returning Nova.

At the parking lot, Lótus sees some fans walking around and heading out of the arena (some of them smarks complaining about the main event lol those losers) when a kid sees her. She hurries on over to Lótus, who’s just reached her car.

Lótus is surprised, but she smiles. She can’t remember a fan coming up to her before tonight.

She hugs Ivy. Her mind has been racing ever since losing her championship. This is a calm moment, though. At least for a short time.

The doorbell rings. Lótus opens the door and Yvonne Ivy stands on the other side. She smirks upon seeing Beatriz but holds a pretty sad looking posture behind that.

It’s been three months since Beatriz walked out on Otranto after their three on three loss at Fortune. She hasn’t even spoken to Violet and Ivy until tonight.

They sit on the couch and Beatriz looks a little uncomfortable. It’s a conversation she knows is necessary, but has been dreading.

Ivy realizes she shouldn’t have said that and tries to follow up, but Lótus isn’t happy.

Ivy heads out and Lótus stops to think about what she’s trying to accomplish with this time away from the ring.

Beatriz moves to give Violet a hug as well. After, Evans grabs her hand and speaks directly to her.

But Lótus doesn’t let go.

She holds on and throws Evans into the locker room wall, making a shelf fall on her arm as she collapses to the ground. Yvonne stares at Lótus in shock, unable to do much.

Lótus takes Ivy down with a few punches, and Violet watches on hopelessly. Beatriz grabs a chair and sets it on the back of Ivy’s head. She looks over at Evans with a smile before stomping brutally on the steel chair! Lótus turns around to leave, muttering to herself.