[Talk - Gugalanna]

Gugalanna answered the door with a yawn.

Gugalanna

What’s up?

Timaeus

Um, you missed the meeting in the library, so I just…

Gugalanna

Ah shit. Why'd it have to be so early anyway?

She shook her head and motioned me inside.

Gugalanna

So you wanna know, huh?

Timaeus

Wanna know… what?

Gugalanna

How I got my stage name! That’s my secret, right?

Timaeus

Well you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to… but I am kinda curious?

Gugalanna

It’s not that exciting a story! Don’t get your hopes up.

Her voice grew (relatively) quiet as she stooped down to hunt through the drawer underneath her bed for… something?

Gugalanna

I guess I haven’t told you my actual name, huh? It’s Gisela. I don’t really… remember my parents, but mamá, she left a note in this book for me when they dropped me off at the shelter. Sister Felipa said that’s how she knew my name.

Gisela stood back up with a huff and showed me a small book she’d kept hidden underneath her bed. Mitos y Leyendas del Mundo, it read– “Myths and Legends of the World.” Though its edges were worn and its colors faded, the illustration it bore on its cover was beautiful– Gilgamesh, the ancient hero from the oldest legends in written record, facing down Gugalanna, the mighty bull of heaven.

Gisela

The poor Sister would try to read me stories from this thing… but all I cared about was that kickass bull on the cover! Wahaha! So she’d make up stories for me, about Gugalanna going on adventures and saving the day…

Gisela

Wasn’t till I was older that I read the book for myself, and learned what really happens to the bull.

Timaeus

I was wondering about that, hah.

She snorted and looked back down at the book.

Gisela

But stories are stories! Good stories, but... I don't care about how it really ends! I care about Sister Felipa! So when she passed on, and I needed a stage name, something powerful and mysterious and special to me...

Timaeus

…That’s so sweet! I had no idea–

Gisela

It’s not sweet! It’s a challenge!!

She put her mask back on and started bellowing at me again.

Gugalanna

El Toro del Cielo will become stronger than myths and legends! No upstart técnico calling himself a hero is gonna take me down… and no villain like El Demonio will either!! HYAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!

Timaeus

I-I believe you! I just meant it’s a thoughtful thing to do…

She huffed and stomped over to the punching bag in the corner of her room– that was probably my cue to leave. She flashed a grin at me, though, as I closed the door.

So she plays an antagonist in the ring… I guess it would be bad for her image if that story got out. But it was comforting to me, at least, that the most fearsome one of us all had such a tame secret. One less thing to worry about…