Only Skin Deep
Disclaimer: I own the WWE like I own a small country.
Summary/Spoilers/Notes: see the first chapter
Thanks to: Megan, CenasAngel1988, Evilution, together, CanaceErinn, J3r1ch0h0lic4eva, Latisha C., flamboyant-flair, aussiewrestlingfan, catie702, Brittany, Princess Hermione, CNIMBWM, Funky in Fishnet, Little-Mis-Rachel, huntersgirl, Myth, AngelicImperfections and Jess420 for the reviews!
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Before the evening gown match, Diva's locker room
"Ugh," Torrie made a face, "Can someone give me a hand with this zipper?"
"I'll make a deal with you," Stacy bargained as she struggled with her own garment, "You zip me, I'll zip you."
Trish merely shook her head, "You know .. If this wasn't for an actual 'match' you'd think-"
"I have a feeling that's the point," Jackie rolled her eyes as she slipped her dress overhead. "This is just so.."
"Stupid, humiliating, degrading?" Dawn Marie supplied, "All of the above?"
Jackie nodded, "Exactly. This is just so dumb."
"So, who's else is doing a promo tonight?" Joy queried as she tackled her own gown, "I know Melina is, Maria's already done hers.."
"I think I am," Victoria scratched the back of her neck in thought, "But I wonder .. The last singles match before the main event, was supposed to be me and Trish so.."
"I'm sure we'll find out," Christy supplied as she slipped on her heels. "That's if they're gonna run another wrestling match for the guys or-"
"Or subject us … again."
"Well, I'd wish you ladies luck but," Trish tossed her hair over her shoulder, "I can't really say you're lucky."
"Damn it." Lita frowned, balancing precariously on her good leg. "I'm thankful to actually get some in-ring time, but like this?" she gestured down to the revealing top and short shorts, "Ugh, I want to quit."
The Canadian Diva raised an eyebrow, "Oh no you don't missy. But, I do have to wonder .. How are you gonna stand around to call a match when-"
"Good question," the Queen of Extreme rolled her eyes, "I guess they didn't factor that into the equation."
"Well, it's not like you have to use that crutch much longer right?" Stacy sent a questioning look to the redheaded Diva. "I mean, I thought you were going to be crutch free soon."
Lita shrugged, "I'll find out at my next doctor's appointment .. Crutch is for safety reasons anyway."
"Ladies." An arena crew member stuck her head in, "Commercial break is just starting, so you should start making your way down there now. Lita, you head out first; Candice, Michelle and Lauren out next."
"Yippee," Jackie shook her head, slipping her own high heels on. "Well, lets go wow 'em and knock 'em dead with our 'amazing' wrestling skills."
Joy raised an eyebrow at the blonde, "Since when did you get so cynical?"
Jackie just shrugged, "Hang around long enough with Li, Trish, Victoria and Dawn? It'll start happening to you too."
Victoria nodded solemnly, "That and when you start realizing your primary reasons for being here are sex appeal rather than your athletic talents."
Joy merely nodded, "I see .."
"Anyway," Lita grabbed her crutch, tucking the item beneath her arm. "Ladies, I'll see you out there .. Don't break a leg."
"Yes m'am Sgt. Gimpy, m'am." Jackie mock saluted the North Carolina native, the Diva rolling her eyes before she hobbled out the door.
Dawn just shook her head, "At least she's still got her humor."
"So," Trish sent a look around the locker room, "Li told me earlier that, she's got five potential candidates for: Operation Replacement. Anyone else have suggestions?"
"I'll think about it while we have our match," Jackie promised then, "Which we should start getting a move on for.."
"Well, we can brainstorm," Christy offered as Candice, Michelle, Lauren, Jackie, Stacy and Torrie exited. "Who did Li think of?"
"Well, she didn't really name anyone in particular," Trish confessed as she took a seat, "But she did point out a few things."
Maria raised an eyebrow, "Such as?"
"Like, we can't choose people who are too tall .. Cuz it's hard it'll be hard enough trying to find stuff for the 'average' guy walking around backstage. Li figured that most of 'em are between 6 ft. and 6 ft. 6."
Victoria nodded in agreement, "Yeah, it's be kinda challenging finding something for the Big Show.."
"Or Viscera," Trish added, "So guys who are taller than the 'average' or heavier than the 'average' I think we should keep them off the list."
"But," Dawn Marie pursed her lips in thought, "Having some of the taller guys might be fun. I mean, look at some of the stuff Stacy has to wear, if you put that on someone considerably shorter.."
"Point." Victoria conceded, "But there's still the weight issue to figure in."
"So.." Christy shrugged, "We'll use a few guys who are on the taller side for variety."
"What else did Li say?"
The Canadian Diva's forehead etched in thought, "Well, she also said we should think about who deserves to take our place-"
"Meaning?'
"Like, who out of the guys on the rosters have been the biggest jerks."
Dawn Marie snorted, "That describes quite a few.."
Christy nodded her agreement, "I can think of a few who really deserve this kind of humiliation."
"Don't get me wrong," Joy began, a look sent around. "But some of the stuff we do isn't half that bad. Humiliating and degrading? Definitely, but it's fun.. Otherwise I'd think some of you would've quit awhile ago."
"What's the point?"
Joy shrugged, "Well, it's just .. Sure, some if it may be in really bad taste, but there have to be some guys on the roster who would love to do this sort of thing."
"So, we consider the likely, the unlikely, and the highly unlikely as far as that goes?" Trish pursed her lips, "That works too .. We can ask around .. All stealth like."
"There's also what I pointed out earlier," Dawn sat back on the bench, smoothing down her dress pants as she did so. "Some of the guys, lets face it- they're hot."
"You can say that again," Joy tucked a rebellious strand of hair behind her ear. "So we should also consider who we would really like to see .. All dolled up in lingerie."
"Or in a stupid thong-a-thon." Trish made a face, "Or 'wrestling' in gravy, or .."
"Chocolate sauce." Dawn smirked, "All we really have to do is look back to all of the 'matches' they've put some of us through. That can form the base of what we put our replacements through."
Victoria snickered, "Too bad we can't have them take our place for the photo shoot and whatever else they have planned for us."
"Well," Christy shrugged, the Diva search winner taking a seat on the bench. "There's no saying we can't. I mean if they're really going to be taking our places, they should have to do everything."
"Hmm," Trish toyed with a strand of hair, "I'm guessing that televised special means one of two things."
"And that is?"
"Diva's Undressed or footage from a photo shoot."
"I'll ask." Maria rose from her spot then, "I mean it can't hurt, right?"
"Right." The Canadian Diva smiled, "Go find out exactly what our charity events, televised events and 'other such things' are."
Maria nodded, the blonde woman exiting the locker room shortly after.
"One thing I wonder about," Dawn sent a look around the locker room, "What are we going to do about storylines and stuff?"
"Such as?"
"Like the angles .. I mean, it's not like we can have one of our replacements getting pregnant or married."
"It's too bad Rico isn't around," Victoria snorted, "That'd be a riot and a half."
Trish let out a laugh, "Or the Godfather, he'd have a whole new 'ho train'."
"We'll think of something," Christy reasoned then, "I mean we still have to figure out what else we're scheduled for, plus narrow down the list. I think it'll be easier to figure out storylines and all that, after we know who we want."
Dawn nodded in agreement, "Yeah that's true.. We can look back on what angles and gimmicks they've gone through already .."
Joy sent a glance to the monitor, "Well it looks like they're almost done.."
"Hey I got an idea," Trish glanced around, "If no one else is needed for the rest of the night, we should probably head back to the hotel early.. That way we have more time to plan this whole thing."
Victoria nodded, sweeping her hair from her face. "We'll need as much time as we can get.. I'll go find out if any of us are needed for that promo." The raven haired Diva hopped up from the bench then, exiting the locker room shortly after.
"Oh," Trish snapped her fingers, "Li also mentioned we should keep Booker, Nitro and Mercury off of the list."
Joy raised an eyebrow, "Why's that?"
"Because, Sharmell and Melina are already aligned with them.. So technically, they don't need to be replaced."
"Good thinking." Christy let out a sigh, "I just hope McMahon goes for it, ya know?"
"Well, it's like we said earlier," the Canadian Diva shrugged, "If they don't go for it, we protest for six weeks. And like Jackie said, a vacation sure would be nice."
"Okay," Maria began as she re-entered the locker room, "We're scheduled for a pancake breakfast to benefit the American Cancer society, a trip to Walt Disney World with the Make A Wish foundation and a day at a ranch." She paused, collecting her thoughts as she took a seat on the floor. "The televised special is a 'Diva's Talent Show' and the photo shoot is a three day cruise in the Mediterranean."
Joy let out a whistle, "Full plate for six weeks."
"Yup," Maria sighed, "But it should be fun.."
"Alright," Victoria started as she re-entered the locker room, "Li's scheduled for the promo, so after she gets back .. We can get out of here."
"Great!" Trish beamed, "Match is done, so we don't have much longer to wait."
The New Jersey native frowned slightly, "Guess this means I have to cancel my plans.."
The blonde Canadian raised an eyebrow in interest, "What plans?"
Dawn shrugged, "Oh it was nothing major or anything .. I was supposed to hang out with Eddie and Rey after the show."
"Ahh.." Trish nodded knowingly, "You've been doing that a lot lately.."
The brunette rolled her eyes, "Not that often.."
"Stupid evening gown matches," Jackie grumbled as she entered the locker room. "Those dumb matches are such a waste of time."
Victoria raised an eyebrow, "I'm sure I could find at least 50 males between the ages of 13 and 49 that would disagree with you."
Jackie rolled her eyes, "Tell me about it .. I felt like a piece of meat out there."
"Where are the others?"
Jackie nodded towards the door, gathering a change of clothes. "Michelle, Lauren and Torrie are at the vending machines, Stacy got caught up talking to someone…and Li's setting up for the promo."
"We're planning on leaving after Li is done," Joy mentioned then, "That way we have more time to plan."
"That works," Jackie peeled off her thigh highs, "I just hafta call Charlie, let him know I can't make it later."
"Well," Trish winked, "I'm sure it won't take too long.."
Jackie rolled her eyes, wiggling out of the evening gown in silence.
"I can't wait for Wednesday." Stacy let out a dreamy sigh as she entered the locker room. "I was just-"
"Talking to Rob?" Dawn sent the leggy blonde a sly look. "Where are you two heading?"
"Dinner and a movie." the Baltimore native reached a hand back to unzip her dress. "It's nothing too fancy, but I'm really looking forward to it."
Joy smiled, "Rob's a really sweet guy, I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun."
"So, we're planning on leaving after Li is done," Trish informed the leggy diva. "That way we have more time to plan."
"Works for me." Stacy nodded as she unzipped her gym bag. "Where are we meeting?"
"Well-"
"You're sooo lucky Torrie." Lauren squealed as she, Torrie and Michelle entered the locker room. "I mean, he's soo cute."
"Who?" Stacy glanced back over her shoulder, "Torrie, why didn't you tell me?"
"Because .. It's not really a big deal," Torrie shrugged casually, the Idaho native shrugging out of her dress. "Really, it's not a big deal.. He's just no one."
Stacy raised an eyebrow, preparing to question in when the door to the locker room swung open.
"I still want alimony!" Lita joked as she set her good leg inside the doorway, "You're damn right I want it, and I'll get it too!"
"Okay.."
Lita shook her head, a smile on her face as she fully entered the locker room. "I'm getting a 'divorce'. " she informed them all with a stoic face, "That's what the promo was about."
"A divorce huh?" Dawn rolled her eyes, "So what's next? Marriage number two?"
The North Carolina resident made a face, "I get to play 'damsel in distress' again.. After I get the update on my knee and I'm crutch free anyway."
"Or you might not have to," Christy pointed out then, "If Vince accepts our plan, all of our upcoming storylines and stuff should be null."
"True," Lita shrugged as she hobbled over to her designated locker. "I just want to be crutch free, that thing is a pain."
"Well now that you're here," Trish rose from the bench, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "We wanted to get out of here .. That way we can use the rest of the night to plan."
"Oh," Lita half frowned, "Well it's just Jerky, Captain Charisma, Cena., Eddie, Dave, Rene, Tyson-"
"The point?"
"They wanted to know if we wanted to go out, grab a bite to eat or something, ya know .. The usual?"
Victoria shook her head, "Not this time .. We really have to get a list down of who's going to take our places, plus plan all this stuff for the next six weeks."
"Well we can always observe them .. Can't we?"
Torrie raised an eyebrow, "What?"
Lita smirked, stripping off the referee's uniform quickly. "The last time we went out .. Don't you remember?"
The Idaho native shook her head, "I wasn't there last time.."
"Oh yeah," Victoria snickered, "The last time we went out, we ended up at a karaoke night .." the raven haired Diva laughed outright at the memory, "Dave, Tyson, Christian and Jericho ended up 'singing' In the Navy."
"Uh huh," Trish giggled, "Eddie ended up borrowing Dawn's shoes to do his own rendition of 'Tequila'."
"So what does that have to do with anything?" Torrie blinked, zipping up her gym bag then.
"That means, if they end up getting anywhere near as drunk as they did that night," Lita tugged a shirt over head, "They won't notice if we add a little make-up to their faces."
"I don't know.."
"It's a good idea actually," Christy shrugged, shouldering her own gym bag then. "I mean, if we're trying to figure out who's going to make the best 'replacement' might as well see what some of them look like with make-up on."
"Or who's the most willing to make a fool out of themselves in public," Joy added as she zipped up her gym bag. "So, we can observe for an hour or so .. Then head back to the hotel to take notes."
"Whatever," Torrie shrugged, grabbing her jacket then. "I just have to confirm my plans for Wednesday .. I'll meet you all in the parking lot, okay?"
"I have to cancel my plans," Dawn informed them all then, as she shouldered her gym bag. "I'll be in the parking lot."
"I was supposed to head out with Melina," Michelle sent a quick look around, as she made her exit. "Call me whenever you guys get to where you're going .. I'll just meet up with you all there."
Christy sent a look to Lauren, Candice and Maria. "I'm ready whenever you are.."
"We're ready." Maria nodded, as she shouldered her gym bag. "Hey Lita, where are we going anyway?"
"Jillian's." Lita grinned, tugging her pants on then. "Just meet us in the front area, okay?"
"Will do." Candice nodded in confirmation, the four making their exit shortly after.
"I take it Lil is meeting us there with Dave, right?" Trish sent a look to the redhead, "Or are you hanging around until they leave?"
"I was gonna head over with them actually," the redhead shrugged, "But I can-"
"Hey Li." Christian stuck his head in the doorway, "Cena and Jerky wanted to know if you wanna hang out with us until RAW's over.." the blonde man paused, sending a smile to Victoria and Trish. "The offer extends to the rest of ya's too."
"Sure that works," Victoria shrugged, tossing her gym bag at the Canadian man. "But only if you carry our stuff."
Christian rolled his eyes, "Slave drivers." he sighed over dramatically as Trish added her own gym bag to the pile, "Well gimpy, let's go.."
"I'm a goin'." Lita rolled her eyes, tossing her own gym bag at the blonde man. "Thanks Christian."
"Yeah whatever," Christian backed out of the doorway, "So .. You're all joining us tonight, right?"
"Yup," Trish grinned, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, "Can we have an encore from last time?"
Christian chuckled, "Only if you're buying."
The four laughed at that, making their way through the hallways in relative silence. They had the remainder of the singles match, one more promo plus the non title tag match to sit through before Lillian would join them. And once the blonde ring announcer had, they could also depart the arena. And as they sat around, Lita, Trish and Victoria kept their plan in mind.. Just by taking a look at the present company, they already had at least two candidates.