Press Conference (Prelim Round)

[FGA Office]

Preliminary Round Press Conference
Frontier Fieldhouse
March 11, 2017
Start Time: 9am CST
Participants: Pedro Gonzales, Elizabeth Lannister, Yazzmin, TJ Adams, Harper Hill, Nando Fresno, Jaelynn Ramsey, Blake Jones

The following is a press conference for the preliminary round of the Rey del Aire tournament. The names listed above are the only wrestlers who will be appearing at this press conference. For reporters, you are more than welcome to use FGA's (Spencer Burke and Jessie Pederson). Or you can use your home fed's interviewers if you would prefer. Or you can make up your own. Doesn't matter. IC, this press conference takes place on Saturday, March 11, 2017 at 9am CST. The preliminary round matches will be taking place later on that same afternoon/night.

[Anna]

All of the competition seem confident in their abilities. So they should be. Otherwise that would be no point in participating in Rey del Aire to begin with. Each one of them came with aspirations. Some are seasoned vets, a couple are rookies, but all held a promise. This promise would be that they would be competition, maybe the best and brightest so far. While the masses hoped and prayed for a Hardy Smurf collision, anything could happen in a tournament.

This spontaneity is what Pedro is banking on.

He makes his way to the podium, his Bueno Club shirt covered only by a suit jacket and the 3GW tag title on his shoulder. There's a smile on his face as he addresses the slew of reporters.

“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. For those who haven’t paid all that much attention to anybody in this tournament other than the established names, I am Pedro Gonzales.”

He shuffles the title off his shoulder and into his hand, casually slipping off his jacket.

“This is the first time I have been in the Fieldhouse as a combatant. And yes, I'm happy to be in the great state of Illinois. If all you know about me it what is written on the press junket, you will notice that I am one of only two people to represent 3GW as well as a member of Bueno Club.”

A beat.

“As if the shirt wasn’t a big enough clue. That scrap of paper isn’t wrong per se. I am, indeed, a contracted wrestler--” He raises the gold up. “--and champion for the California based promotion.”

It gets a quick kiss before joining the jacket.

“But while I am representing my home and my team to a certain degree, I would be lying if I didn’t say that when it comes to Rey del Aire…”

Without warning, he whips off that shirt revealing another shirt altogether.

“...I’m doing this for me. Any questions?”

Pedro doesn’t see the hands that rise right away as he folds the Bueno Club shirt. Then again, he doesn’t need to. Jessie Pendleson is on the scene, after all. “First of all, I’ve got to congratulate you and El Grandé Malo on your victory against the Gold Star Connection. Most people didn’t expect you to win, myself included.”

He grins. “Si, I get that a lot. But gracias. I’ll pass it along.”

“Do you think you should’ve been straight into the tournament proper instead of the preliminary round?”

A shrug. “It would have been nice. I do understand it though. The turnout was stronger than anyone thought. Some people that can be considered as names have risen their heads. So in order to ensure a good show, you have to cull the herd. I also understand the hesitation of adding me in. This is primarily a deal for high flyers which I have heard far too many times.”

Pedro rolls his eyes, remembering that little Twitter conversation. The fact that Spencer Burke opens up his piehole is pure coincidence. “Which leads into the question of why you’re even in Rey del Aire in the first place. While you do a few maneuvers from the top rope, it’s not exactly the most notable part of your offense.”

“I threw my hat in the ring for the same assortment of reasons that every wrestler everywhere give. Competition. Testing one’s self. Getting noticed. Money. Pride. It’s dial a cliché, but it is every bit as true.”

Ah, but Spence ain't done. “Let’s talk about your opponent TJ Adams for a moment. When the match was first announced, you said it would be a win-win for both of you because he would get noticed and you would get a warm up.”

Mexico City's Favorite Son grins. “I was half joking when I said that. But I stand by the statement.”

“Aren’t you underestimating him? He can study every move of yours…”

“Correction. He can study what he thinks is all my moves. If he did watch the matches, fine. I am more than what you see in a twenty minute match. At first glance, Señor Adams seemed like an idiot in a dinosaur costume. Maybe he’s changed his tactics since prying himself away from the comfortable teats of his mentor. That’s the beauty of being a wrestler. Everything is subject to change. The card. The person. He can get hit by a car driven by a large Samoan guy an hour from now! You just don’t know.

From what little I have seen however, there are enough elements there that can benefit him in the grand scale of things. He knows when to turn the goofiness off. He can take advantage of an opportunity. Is that enough to give me a good fight? Absolutely. Will it be enough to defeat me?”

He shakes his head.

“Not at all. I won’t allow it. The only person that’s going to make a name on me is my own damn self. I still do wish him luck however. I’m sure he’ll grow to be pretty damn good in time.”

Some random twat is asking this question. Probably from some random wrestling newsletter. “Pedro, ever since the lineup was announced for this years event, a lot of people have been baffled over what seems to be a lack of high flyers. Given the circumstances, do you think that will be a hindrance?”

“No.”

This gets a small reaction as some of the reporter's ears perk up and a whole lot of typing ensues. Months ago, he would’ve tried to correct any misconceptions. What would be the point though?

“My immediate goal is to defeat Señor Adams. My short term goal is to win Rey del Aire. My long term goal is to be the best. And I know that ‘the best’ is relative. One place’s best is another place’s unknown. But I have to aim as high as possible. A lot of people come into this thinking that the only way to rule the air is to fly farther, faster, higher than the rest. They don’t realize the alternate route. To become royalty by clipping the wings of all who stand in their way.

In my way.

I am not just thinking about this tournament. I am also thinking about the long haul. I am thinking about whoever my next opponent is after all of this is done. Versatility, or as close as I can get to such a thing, is going to be the key. I may not have all the pieces in place but there is an idea, however vague, of what the picture is to look like.

I will clip.

I will fly.

I will pin.

I will win.

I will do what I must to take what I want. And spoiler alert, I want it all.”

This comment sounds pretty awesome enough to leave off with. But some drunken douchebag 3GW fan with waaaaay too much time of his hands just had to ask one more question.

"ARE YOU FUCKING MARITZA DIAZ?"

Pedro turns back around to face the crowd and acts like his thinking for a moment. But seeing as how he's in semi-quasi-confident promo mode, he can't really help himself.

"...not yet."

And although he shows a confident smirk before turning away, ho knows there's a good chance he'll get chewed out for that. Oh, well.

[Jensen Banks]

It is Blake Jones who makes his way up to the podium next, a big smile on his face.

"Man, oh man. It's about that time, ain't it?"

Blake takes a whiff of the air around him.

"You can just smell the anticipation. Every single person here today is ready to get in that ring. They're ready to kick someone's ass and prove that despite having one more match than whoever they'll be facing next, they're still someone you need to keep an eye out for. Everybody's ready to become the Rey del Aire, but only one of us is pulling that rabbit out of the hat. Only one of us is joining Bob Pooler in those record books."

He looks around for a bit before just asking one of the cameramen.

"Do y'all know if Bob Pooler did anything after that?"

No response.

"I guess not. Well, hopefully whoever wins this tournament will actually do something past it and use it to build on their already successful career like Molly Reid or Laurel Anne Hardy or Emilio Vialpando, or they'll use it to really kickstart their career like my opponent, Jae Ramsey, or Yazzmin- sick name, bee tee dubya.

I should probably take some questions or something now. That's how this stuff goes, right?"

A handful of hands rise, all of them looking to ask the Philadelphian a question. Finally, Blake picks one and the person, a short old man with big glasses, stands and asks his question.

"Why are you back in wrestling? What happened to soccer?"

"I already told Jae's future ex-husband what happened to soccer. I achieved all I needed to achieve there and I did it quicker than I thought. The league did fold after I did so, but that just lead to me having a lot of time to do what I wanted, which I spent mostly traveling. And as I was dodging kangaroo punches while I was in Australia, I realized that I missed wrestling and the way I left wasn't really the way I wanted to. So I'm back to end things my way. I'm back to compete against anyone and everyone and it starts with this tournament."

"Okay, a follow-up. You released a list a couple of days back of people you wanted to face currently in wrestling. Do you just want to face these people?"

Blake shakes his head.

"Nah. Like I said, I want to fight everyone and anyone. But those people are people I definitely want to face. That I want to see across the ring from me. People not on the list are like the onion ring you find in your curly fries; a surprising extra treat. Like Ramsey over there."

The older man sits down after thanking Blake for answering his question. Other hands rise and Blake points to a female in the front row, who gets up and smiles as she asks her question.

"Do you want to win Rey del Aire or are you just in this for fun?"

"Well, I don't enter any competition without thinking about winning the whole thing or even believing that I could do so. I entered a freaking limbo contest a year ago with the intention of winning despite being the first person to mess up. So I have entered this tournament with the intention of winning. Am I going to be the one who says they need this win the most? No, I'm not going to be because I don't need this win. But I'm at least willing to be honest about that. And I'm at least willing to admit that I am going to have fun while I'm here, even if others want to be really broody about this thing like they haven't entered other tournaments and lost or like they won't have a job after this and whatnot.

I don't need to win this tournament because my career doesn't hinge on it. At best, I need to win one match or even look good in my first round match to just shut up those 'ring rust' murmurs. My opponent doesn't need to win this tournament because even if she loses to me in the first round, she'll have multiple opportunities waiting ahead of her. I'm sure she wants to though, just like I do and just like everyone else does. But nobody, and I mean nobody, NEEDS to win this. So what I'm going to do in this tournament is put on a show and do my best to win. And if I lose, then I'll shake the hand of the person who bested me. Simple as that."

The female sits down and less hands rise this time, but Blake picks another person, this guy being a tall gentlemen with a crooked nose.

"Blake, what do you think about your opponent?"

Blake takes a second to think before he responds.

"She's got potential, but there's something missing. It's not killer instinct or any of that shit a lot of these people who act like twats use to explain why they act like twats, but it's something. Maybe it's because she decided to mix in with Harter and now that's place a shadow over her or something. One that she needs to escape."

Jones looks over at Ramsey.

"By the way, that's probably a good thing to use when you divorce Harter."

He then turns back to the reporter.

"I just think she needs to do more to stand out. Something to turn heads. Maybe beating me, someone who hasn't wrestled in about...fuck if I remember how long, will turn those heads. Maybe going through this entire tournament will do that. All I can say, and I mean this with no disrespect though I'm sure you'll take it with some, is that Jae is another person in this tournament with potential. So...I guess at least I think she's got potential?"

The tall gentleman nods before sitting down before Blake looks around.

"Anyone else got a question? Nobody wants to ask me if I learned any new moves or any other talents while I was away?"

Blake shrugs.

"Well, I'm a little disappointed, but thanks for the questions anyways."

Jones walks away from the podium and takes his seat back at the table set out for him and the rest of the first round RdA entrants.

[Yazz]

“It’s just really really realllllly exciting.”

Yazzmin Villa stood at the podium smiling from ear to ear.

“I stand up here and I really don’t even know what to say. This is my first time doing this and the jitterbug is just taking over me right now.”

She lifted her hand up to wipe the sweat that was beginning to drip from her forehead.

“But I’m glad to be here right now with all you beautiful people…and more excited that my official FGA debut is right around the corner.”

Yazzmin nodded her head while a hand gets thrown up but she motions for them to wait as she continued to speak.

“I’ve been waiting for this since RDA was announced and I signed up. I honestly knew what I would be getting myself into because of course there would be some amazing talent signing up.... and boy wasn’t some of the name shockers.”

She looked down at some notes she had taken.

“Like Emilio, Laurel, Molly, Kickbooty Smurf just to name a few. Oh oh and even Blake Jones is returning to the ring. Oh my gosh. That’s huge.”

She held her arms out to indicate how huge that is.

“But one of the most slept on competitors in this thing is my opponent for this round.”

She looked around for Elizabeth Lannister.

“You’re really an up and comer in all of wrestling right now. Have a lot of spunk and I can tell that you genuinely love wrestling and I couldn't have asked for a better opponent to kick this thing off yet alone my career. I don’t know you personally but you seem really cool and you’re a champion down in SSWA so you’re doing really good things and I’m honestly glad for you.

And I know… I know it’s going to be hard to come out there and get that W you know. It’s not going to be easy at all and I think everyone likes some stiff competition from training to when the lights are on and it’s time for the match to begin. It’s what drives some wrestlers. For me I’m driven by those things but mainly I’m driven off the simple fact that I can help build my family's name.”

Yazzmin cleared her throat.

“Because wrestling is in my blood. I’ve been in a ring since I knew how to walk just learning things as the years flew by and boy did they. I can’t stress enough how much time flies these days.”

She paused taking a second before continuing.

“I’ve been wrestling around Minnesota for two years now and I’m glad that FGA found me and offered me a contract. I feel so blessed and I would hate it if I let everyone back home who’s rooting for me down.

That would suck a lot. It’s like I have to put the whole city on my back because I don’t know anybody else from Minnesota in this business so I’m going to take much pride in opening up that door for wrestlers out of Minni just like me.”

She nodded her head.

“And when I look at RDA I see the perfect opportunity to make a name for myself out the gates. Start this career off with a bang. Make people take a little notice as to what Yazzmin Villa can do in the ring. It’s not that much right now as I still have a ways to go but that’s what going up against someone like E if I can call you that helps with… growth, because like my granny says, you can only learn so much by training. You’ll learn more by the people you face and the many different styles they bring to the table…

And I know for a fact that Elizabeth can pack a punch and has a lot of potential just like the majority of everyone in this tournament.”

She looked around the room once more before looking at the table the wrestlers were seated at.

“I say that sincerely too because there are people sitting at that table who are future hall of famers. One is already and hopefully I can get to that status as well one day but right now I just wanna stay focused on what’s at task and not look to far into the future. I just wanna take it day by day, step by step and just continue to perfect my craft you know?

But yeah, this is really exciting man I can’t stress that enough. I just really hope that on Saturday I’m not as nervous in the ring as I am standing up here talking to you all because even though I’m newly signed I still wanna bring it home for FGA , because this is where i’ll be representing for a long time. This is where I’ll be making a name for myself and building up my fanbase and it would be really good for them to know me as an RDA winner like the one person before me.”

Yazzmin smiled while pushing some of hair that dropped down into her face out of the way.

“I’m not going to hold you guys up and sorry to everyone who wanted to ask me a question. If I get pass E then we’ll most def do it differently next time. Bye guys.”

She waved before stepping down from the podium and taking her seat back at the table.

[The Mason]

Eyes and cameras turn toward the diminutive young man with his long dreads allowed to fall free around his head and shoulders. Nando Fresno: Alien Hunter looks with an arched brow toward his fellow competitors before turning a large, curious eye to the press.

Nando: You guys wanna hear something? I’ve been thinking. Hard.

No one in the small crowd seems to know exactly how to respond as Nando leans forward, hands gripped on the edge of the podium, peering into the audience, waiting for somebody to raise a hand or perk an ear-- anything. With a small sigh, he goes on anyway.

Nando: I took this the wrong way at first, I think. I didn’t read too much into why, but I saw that I was one of the people in this tournament that had to advance through a preliminary round. I was a little miffed, sure. I looked myself in the mirror and asked my conscious, physical self ‘conscious, physical self, when is it good enough?’ After spending half of the last year trying to make some sort of mark back home in New Kingdom Pro, I had a brief moment of complacency. A moment of weakness. After prevailing in a fatal four way with three of my bigger comrades, I was riding an undeserved high. I saw the brackets and found myself deflated. But… but this is the way all of us on this stage should want it anyway. I mean… taking that one extra step-- somebody has to do it. Imagine if President Kennedy hadn’t urged the United States of America to push forward and ahead in the Space Race. Imagine if Neil Armstrong hadn’t taken that extra step-- that one giant leap-- for mankind. Where would we be? How blind would we be now?! That one extra step is everything. That one extra steps separates men from boys. It separates the powerful from the weakened. The brave from the frightened. That is what that one extra step represents…

Inhale.

Nando: ...and there is no half-stepping in the land of science.

Exhale.

Nando: I’d like to take a moment to talk to you guys about extraterrestrials.

Spencer Burke: And we’ve got our first question! This one comes from Nelson Daniels from The Grappling Network who operates a podcast based in your company’s home of Germany.

Nando nods toward the man that Spencer gestures to.

German Nelson: Nando, most of the people familiar with your work in the ring realize that most of your career has been spent as a tag team competitor, most notably alongside Jillian Clay. Do you feel it’s going to be difficult to get past that psychological hurdle of not having your partner with you for the Rey Del Aire tournament?

Nando seems to take an absurd amount of time thinking about the question.

Nando: No. Next. You.

He points toward Jessie Pederson.

Jessie Pederson: Nando, a lot of people that aren’t familiar with you might have already drawn conclusions based on your namesake and your association with the likes of Lani San Diego and FGA’s own Sadie San Francisco. Does it bother you at all moving forward to know that you could be unfairly judged based on the company you keep?

Pause.

Nando: No. Next. 

Jessie looks taken aback, frowning a bit. Nando points toward a young, red-haired girl next to Spencer dressed in a t-shirt shirt advertising the defunct Sin City Wrestling.

Not German Nelson: Does Harper Hill make you nervous?

Perhaps it was the unprofessional wording of the question, or the directness of it, but Nando, lips pursed ready to say ”no, next” stopped. He smiled faintly, rubbing his chin as he thinks.

Nando: Yeah. Yeah, a bit. She does. You know the scariest thing about human beings?

Nando leans forward again.

Nando: They can change in an instant. Willingly, you know? Or out of spite. People don’t give the human mind enough credit for how it adapts under pressure. The Harper Hill that I’m planning for and reading up on might not show up at this tournament at all.

Nando glances over his shoulder in the direction that Hill sits.

Nando: I could get a woman that’s got a chip on her shoulder and ready to tear through this tournament. I could get a competitor in Harper Hill that’s truly, honestly hellbent on becoming the Rey Del Aire. And I simply don’t know. With the supplies and libraries at my disposal, I’ve found out as much about Harper as I could. She’s a mat technician that’ll do her best to neutralize things like the Plancha or Frog Splash. She’s gonna want to dictate this match. She’ll want to slow it down. At least… at least that’s the Harper Hill I’ve prepared for. I wouldn’t expect her to change her nature for me… hmmmm, no… but sometimes the rookies are the hardest to read, aren’t they? Who’s to say what Harper Hill’s nature is?

Nando’s voice grows lower, as if he’s asking the questions aloud to himself. His gaze completely falls away from the press.

Nando: Who’s to say she even knows yet?

After all of this, Nando’s face changes a bit, softening, and he offers a small shrug.

Nando: That’s paranoia.

A short laugh.

Nando: Maybe Harper Hill is just what she appears to be. A rookie. But who am I to take that chance, hm? Yes. Yes, she makes me nervous.

Exhale.

Nando: ...I’m getting a vibe that none of you are interested in engaging in a discussion about extraterrestrial life during this venue. Hm?

Silence from the press. Silence from the stage. Nando groans deeply.

Nando: That’s a shame. This is a hell of a platform for such a discussion. Really nice, guys. Really progressive of you. WAY to take that extra step for mankind!

Mumbling under his breath, Nando shakes his head and turns, walking away from the podium. He pivots before reaching his chair, shouting back toward the small crowd.

Nando: One day you’ll wish we had this group discussion. Don’t come looking for Nando when your shit gets sucked into the clouds. I swear.

And with that, Nando folds his arms, sitting back down in his chair, falling silent out of spite.

[Savannah Taylor]

Moments after the soon-to-debut Yazzmin Villa finished addressing the various reporters and media outlets present, the slight squeaking of a chair being pushed back is heard just off to the right side of the podium. Approaching the podium like many of her contemporaries have is one third of the newly crowned SSWA Trios champions Elizabeth Lannister. Dressed to impress in a fitted charcoal gray pencil skirt, a crisp white button down shirt worn under a matching charcoal gray blazer and simple black heels, she has her Trios title slung over her shoulder as she waits a second before addressing the media and those gathered upon the stage.

Elizabeth Lannister: Before I answer any questions, allow me to address the woman you just heard from. Now, anyone with a working pair of eyes can tell that the poor girl is nervous. Can you blame her though? This is her first taste of what it’s like to be in the big leagues. All of the hard work and sacrifice all comes down to one moment of glory. It’s okay to be a bit scared.

She turns her head and glances over at the rookie.

Elizabeth Lannister: Guess what? You SHOULD be scared. This isn’t amateur hour anymore. This is your debut in the big leagues. Yet nerves aren’t the only thing I sense coming from you. I sense incredible naivety. You are honestly and genuinely excited to kick off your career here against the likes of me?

She laughs softly as she shakes her head, her blonde tresses falling down around her shoulders.

Elizabeth Lannister: Oh, you sweet summer child. You honestly have no idea what awaits you in the ring. The woman you are about to face is angry. She is angry for a great number of reasons, reasons she doesn’t really care to get into at the moment. You’re about to face a woman who is tired. She is tired of scratching and clawing her way towards the top only to be denied. She is tired of being told that she isn’t quite good enough and that she should stick to the current path she is on.

She draws in a sharp breath to steady herself.

Elizabeth Lannister: I am every single one of those, Yazzmin. I am angry. I am also frustrated. I am not a woman that you should take lightly. I want this match to be a lesson for you. I want this match to be the start of a series of lessons that you will learn as you traverse through this business. After I beat you and move on in this tournament, I want you to take any available tapes of the match and study them at great length. Maybe the net match you have, you will bring pride to…..Minnesota.

She says with a hint of derision in her voice as she turns her attention away from Yazzmin and back towards the media.

Elizabeth Lannister: Now, if you have any questions, the floor is open.

She looks around before nodding her head in the direction of well-known FGA interviewer Spencer Burke.

Spencer Burke: Elizabeth, hi. Spencer Burke here.

Elizabeth Lannister: Hello.

Spencer Burke: My first question is, how much pressure are you under, from yourself or from others, to do well in this tournament?

Elizabeth Lannister: Obviously I’m not just representing the SSWA in this, but I’m doing this for a lot of people. I’m doing this for everyone who has ever wanted to see me fail. I’m doing this for everyone who has ever doubted and continues to doubt me. I’m doing this for the miniscule handful of people who believe in me and want to see me succeed in this business. But mostly, Spencer, I’m doing this for myself. I know I’m good. I know I’ve got the talent to make it far. That is why I’m putting pressure on myself in this tournament.

Spencer Burke: Does this sense of urgency have anything to do with how you did in the recent Young Guns Cup tournament?

If looks could kill, then Spencer Burke would be buried six feet UNDER the arena. That was the last thing that Elizabeth wanted to be reminded of. All she could see right now was the ending of the match with Seren Beyer and HOW she lost.

Elizabeth Lannister: …

Spencer Burke: I mean, given how it went the last time, you’ve got to be looking to rebound somehow, right?

Elizabeth Lannister: …

Spencer Burke: Anything?

Elizabeth’s eyes narrow slightly as Spencer is seemingly interrupted by the polar opposite of him in the interview world, Jessie Penderson.

Jessie Penderson: Hi, it’s Jessie. Sorry about that.

Elizabeth shakes her head slightly and clears her throat.

Elizabeth Lannister: No problem.

Jessie Penderson: First off, congratulations on winning the Trios championships. No easy task, I’m sure.

Elizabeth Lannister: Thank you, Jessie. And might I say that it is a good thing to have an intelligent woman such as you here to do some honest reporting?

Jessie Penderson: What is one thing you hope to take away from the Rey del Aires tournament and is there anyone in particular you would be most looking forward to facing?

Elizabeth Lannister: What I’m hoping….no scratch that…what I WILL take away from this tournament is the fact that more people will be better acquainted with not just my name, but with who I am as a wrestler and a woman as well. As for who I’d like to face? Is everyone a good enough answer?

Jessie Penderson: It works for me. Thank you.

Elizabeth Lannister: You’re welcome.

With that, she turns away from the podium and makes her way back to her seat as the media readies themselves for whomever comes up next.

[Jaelynn]

At the announcement of the Rey Del Aire tournament set for 2017, Jaelynn Ramsey could not pass up the opportunity. She took it upon herself to find out the requisites despite not consulting with her mentor, Randy. Despite having the qualifications, she still needed to prove herself to be a worthy entrant.

Camera flashes instantly hit Jaelynn as soon as she enters the room. She’s in a 3GW hooded sweater, black leggings, and winter boots. She raises her shades, setting it on the crown of her head as she approaches the table.

The journalists make “off-the-record” comments amongst one another as they observe the young woman. Now seated behind the table, Jaelynn taps her fingernails against the tabletop out of habit. A curly haired man in a t-shirt containing Greek letters is first to address Jaelynn. She acknowledges him, selecting him to proceed with his question.

“Jaelynn! This is Trevor from the University of Illinois. How do you like Chicago so far?”

“It’s a city. I really have not had the opportunity to get a proper tour, however, this trip to me is purely business. We’ll see what happens after the prelimins. I may have a change of mood then.”

“Would you like to comment on your opponent, Blake Jones?”

“I’d rather not, but that wouldn’t make your assignment any good, now would it? I think he’s a fool, and I’d rather walk up 10 flights of stairs than to ever share an elevator with him. Nonetheless, he’s an opponent, and despite my impression of him, I need to stay focused. I’ve allowed perception and other futile thoughts hinder my past performances. I don’t want to come up short because I’ve underestimated someone or allowed them to best me. I can’t allow this imbecile to move on to the next round at my expense. Ugh.”

A look of disgust appears on her face, as she slowly stands up.

“...I think that will be all for today.”

She turns around slowly, and as she steps out of the room, gagging sounds can be heard. Trevor cringes in disgust and discomfort.