Why Can't We Be Friends?
Jan 6, 2016 18:42:28 GMT -5
Post by Lou on Jan 6, 2016 18:42:28 GMT -5
Liberty Warehouse
Red Hook, Brooklyn, NY
June 27, 2015
8:43 p.m.
The lavish Liberty Warehouse is jam-packed with men and women, some dressed casually and others in far less conservative attire--more specifically, there is a lot of cosplay going on. That’s because on this warm June evening, Jessica Sears and boyfriend Luke Jackson are throwing a free-for-all video game bash for all of their friends.
Tonight, as has become the case over the last half a decade or so, the Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn is overflowing with hipsters and comic book nerds. There are people playing video games everywhere, on screens from 32 inches to 50 feet. Every system you can think of is in the house tonight...NES, SNES, Sega Genesis, Playstation, X-Box 360. Someone even brought a Sega freakin Saturn!
Ricky Valero is like a kid on Christmas morning as he enters the large conference center. His jaw might as well be on the floor as his eyes wander throughout the room. On his arm is the lovely Mayu Ito. In a few weeks time, she would be his girlfriend, but tonight, they were merely friends with a shared love interest. They had gotten quite comfortable with one another, and this was one of the first times the two were actually out together in such a public setting.
“Ricky,” Mayu says with a giggle. “Are you okay?”
“I’m...I’m not totally sure. I think I might be dead. This has to be Heaven.”
Now, Mayu bursts into full-on laughter, her head falling to his shoulder as she’s on the verge of tears. “Well I appreciate you allowing me to be here with you!”
He smirks as he looks at her out of the corner of his eye. “If this is Heaven, I’m pretty sure you’re the only reason I’m here, sweetheart.”
Always the charmer. It’s those kind words that have helped Ricky break down Mayu’s walls. But really, it’s Mayu whose work getting close to Ricky deserved a gold medal, or at the very least, a chocolate chip cookie. Ricky wasn’t one to confide in many people. Just about everyone in his past left him in shambles at one time or another. He always tried to keep his distance, relying on playing the field rather than settling down with one woman. Mayu was close to changing that for Ricky for the first time in six years, when he divorced ex-wife Rochelle McCree.
“Ricky-sama!” a voice shouts from across the room. Ricky searches the scene, but the source of the voice cannot be found. “Ricky-sama!!!!”
That is until he’s been literally tackled to the floor by none other than the beautiful young blonde herself, Jessica Sears.
“What the--” he says as he crashes to the carpet.
Jessica plants a friendly kiss on Ricky’s cheek as she scurries to her feet, dusting herself up as she does. Ricky, meanwhile, leans up in a seated position on the floor, sucking his teeth with a grin on his face.
“Well hello to you too!” He can’t help but laugh. At least until he spots Luke Jackson, her boyfriend and fellow Pride wrestler, standing behind her with a less-than-thrilled look on his face. Ricky smirks. “And hello to you, Luke.”
However, Luke just nods his head in response, sorta uttering the words, “hey,” but not really. The tension between Ricky and Luke has been growing for months, and Jessica was the reason why. They were too close. They spent too much time together, and frankly, he didn’t trust Ricky. Ricky’s past had been well documented. The guy was a pig who would do anything to get into any girl’s pants. Why should he believe this situation was any different?
Unfortunately for Mayu, she faced a similar predicament. If there had been anything that really concerned her about Ricky, it was his relationship with Jessica. What were they and what impact did it have on what she and Ricky were--or could be? It was hard to miss the fact that Ricky worshipped the ground Jessica walked on.
“Are you guys having fun?” Ricky asked, really only concerned with Jessica’s happiness and doing his best to make sure Luke knew he was blowing him off.
“Hai!” Jessica squealed in a high-pitched tone that brought a smile to Ricky’s face. Of course she was having fun, there were games of Super Smash Bros., Mario Kart, Resident Evil and more going on throughout the party. For a gamer geek such as herself, it was impossible for her NOT to have fun tonight.
Even with Mayu at his hip, Ricky’s eyes are unmoved from Jessica. There’s just something about her presence in his life that eases his stomach. One would never know it by watching him do his thing inside the ring, but Ricky’s personal life wasn’t exactly a bed of roses. He had been through some hell, and Jessica’s friendship helped him forget a lot about that. As for Luke, he stopped caring about how he felt a long time ago. Ricky tried to keep it civil, but it was evident now that would never be the case. Jessica was Luke’s possession, and Ricky was the evil thief trying to take her out from under him. As far as Ricky and Jessica were concerned, that could not be further from the truth, but alas…
“We’re definitely going to have to get a game of Mario Party in before the night is over,” Ricky said as he took hold of Mayu’s hand in his. “Mayu’s been chomping at the bit excited to play that one on the big screen.”
Finally trying to be civil, Luke responded, “I think that’s a great idea. We need to get around to saying hello to everyone here, but we’ll link back up…” But before Luke can finish his statement, he’s interrupted by the sound of a woman clearing her throat.
“Ahem…”
Ricky’s eyes are suddenly transfixed on the new blonde standing before them. She’s a natural beauty with long hair and a mischievous air about her.
“Of course,” Luke says suddenly, stepping aside to introduce the cute blonde. “Mayu you know her already, Ricky...this is my big sister, Larissa. Larissa, Ricky Valero.”
Ricky extends his hand to her with a devilish grin on his face as the two share in a gentle handshake. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Larissa.”
“The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Valero,” she replies with a smirk of her.
“Please, call me Ricky…”
Luke eyeballs Ricky once again unsure of whether or not he can trust the so-called “Franchise”. Nonetheless, he extends his hand to shake Ricky’s hand as well.
“I’m glad you could make it, Ricky. Mayu, as always. We’ll catch up later on tonight when things slow down. Have fun, walk around, jump into some games. It should be a great night!”
“We definitely will,” Ricky responds. He and Mayu watch as the three of them walk off, Jessica giggling uncontrollably as a result of utter joy. Larissa trails behind them, nodding her head with a smile to Ricky and Mayu. He turns to Mayu with a shit-eating grin, “You trying to get your butt whooped in some Marvel vs. Capcom?”
Mayu scoffs with derisive laughter. “Bring it on, old man. When I’m done with you, you’re going to wish the stock market crash of 1929 was the worst thing that ever happened to you!”
“Wow...Old jokes, really?!”
Mayu snickers, planting a kiss firmly on Ricky’s cheek as the two head off to find an available gaming setup.
.
.
.
Journal Entry #710
Strange Bedfellows
1/5/2016
I have a chance to take a step forward. As a man and as a wrestler...I have a chance to do something right for a change. It’s definitely not what I was expecting.
Thrust into a tournament for FGA with the number one contendership for the World Tag Team Championships at stake, I probably never would’ve predicted Luke Jackson would be the man I’d have to rely on as my tag partner. We haven’t always been fond of each other, after all. With good reason, of course, and on both ends, but I’d have been hard pressed to believe the two of us could stand side by side inside a ring without turning and trying to strangle the other before the first bell ever rang. Today, however, I feel confident.
I’m honestly not sure I can trust Luke Jackson, but I have to try. There’s too much on the line for both of us, and if I’m going to ascend in this company as I intend to, I’m apparently going to need his help to make that happen. Our first challenge is not a walk in the park by any means either. But then, I’m not sure any match against a FGA competitor could be. These competitors are good. Better than I’ve faced in a long time, and it’s nice to be among this crop of wrestlers keeping the sport I love great.
Luke and I, we cannot afford to fail. We both have high aspirations for ourselves in this company, and even though we know it will take everything in us to succeed in this tournament, we’re willing to sacrifice that and more to make it happen. I’m just thankful we have seemingly been able to get through the rough patch, accept what happened over six months ago and move forward. We didn’t have much of a chance anyway, not if we really want to win this tournament and challenge for those tag straps.
As for me personally, I’m feeling optimistic for 2016. But then, how couldn’t I? 33 years old and improving every day in the ring, accompanied by my beautiful girlfriend Mayu and my amazing, smart and funny son Little Richie, life is better than I can remember. Mayu is patient with me, and she’s one hell of a fighter too. She just keeps pushing me to be better. A better boyfriend, a better father, a better man. It’s taken a long time to get things right, but in 2016, I may just have it all figured out!
.
.
.
"Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful."
- Proverbs 27:6
(rec)
The camera fades in on Ricky Valero standing outside the Matthews Arena in Boston. A single light hangs over his head, coloring him in a gentle orange hue with shade all around him. It’s cold--about 34° F--on this January evening, so he’s bundled up pretty well in a navy blue duffle coat over his sweatsuit.
He looks into the camera in front of him with a casual smirk on his face. He is comfortable. Confident. Even with an important match upcoming so soon in his FGA career, he is carefree, jovial even. There is plenty for Ricky to stress about in life. Wrestling has never been one of those things.
“I was nervous,” he admits with a chuckle. “I won’t deny it. As passionate as I am about this business, as good as I KNOW I am, I always get a little anxious before a debut for a new promotion. I want to go out there and blow everyone away. The crowd, the front office, my opponent...everyone. So I stepped into the ring inside the Grand Ballroom at the Manhattan Center against Aries Reed with much to prove: Could Ricky Valero still hang 15 years into this career of his? Could he still be a viable competitor in a promotion as competitive as the FGA? It’s only one match, but I like to think I answered any questions that may have existed with a resounding yes!
There should be no doubt about it. Ricky Valero is the real deal. Ricky Valero is not to be taken lightly. A newcomer? Sure. But you better believe I’m one of the most lethal threats on the roster now. My presence has changed the entire landscape here in FGA. The game as you all knew it has changed, and I’m not being cocky when I saw that I firmly believe I can and will position myself as the greatest talent on the FGA roster before 2016 is through. As a singles competitor, there will be no comparison.
But...can Ricky Valero survive as one half of a less-than-formidable tag-team duo?”
Ricky scoffs as he sucks his teeth and mulls over his ensuing words.
“There had been no love lost between myself and Luke Jackson. It is well documented. Guy dates girl. Girl befriends Better Looking Guy. Guy gets super jealous, and before we know it, Guy and Better Looking Guy are on a warpath to tear each other limb from limb. It’s your classic Nicholas Sparks novel infused with a little Transformers. We’ve all seen it a hundred times, so yes, I can understand why some would see the trouble with this pairing. When that old company closed up shop, things were never settled and everything was left on bad terms.
The animosity between the two of us was unmistakable. And who could blame Luke for being jealous...I mean look at me,” he says with a sparkle in his eye and shit-eating grin on his mug. “But all that animosity was a lifetime ago as far as we’re concerned. We are adults fully capable of setting bullshit aside. We’ve moved on. He’s MARRIED to the homegirl Jules, and I’ve been with my girlfriend since July. Bygones are bygones. The hatchet is buried. There are much bigger things at stake in this tag team tournament, and we both have one thing and one thing only in mind: victory.
Victory won’t come easy. In order for us to earn that tag team title shot, we’re going to have to overcome some substantial obstacles to get there. The first of which comes in the form of a talented duo, Yun Goeun and Camellia D. Magna.”
He pauses for a moment, nodding his head in approval of his and Luke’s opponents in the semi-final round of the Joker’s Wild Tag Team Tournament at the next installment of Vertigo.
“Luke and myself, we’re not stupid. We knew going into this tournament we would be tested. We know everyone’s going to want to see just how legitimate this little bond is between the two of us. Can we withstand it all in a high-pressure situation? Can we resist the urge to pack it in and leave the other hanging high and dry? But as I said, Luke and myself, we’re in it to win it. We’re both here in FGA seeking triumph. It’s one thing to take about how great you are. It’s another thing to back it up with gold to show for it. I’ll admit this is not the conventional route either of us is used to, but if tag team gold is what it takes to ascend up the FGA ladder and improve our prospects toward gaining that top spot? I’m all for it!
That’s a disastrous reality for Yun Goeun and Ms. Magna, both of whom have the misfortune of being collateral damage along our journey. Ladies, let me be direct here in saying it will be an honor to make our tag debut against the two of you. However, I must be blunt when I tell you this: You are going to lose. No ifs. No ands. No buts. You are going to lose, and it doesn’t matter what you bring to the party. Chairs swinging, guns blazing. You’re hopeless. There are things in life that are inevitable, and ladies, Ricky Valero and Luke Jackson winning this tag tournament is a mere certainty.
‘But how can you be so confident, Ricky? How can you be so sure you and Luke are going to win, much less get along with one another for an entire match?’”
A genuine smile suddenly stretches across Ricky’s face.
“In this industry, there are traits that separate the contenders from the pretenders. Everyone has talent. If they’ve come this far, they can hold their own for a seven-minute matchup and escape with a victory every once in awhile. But the contenders, the individuals who have the potential to be something special and the determination to live up to those expectations...you see it in the way they carry themselves. Inside the ring. Outside the ring. They don’t just walk the walk. They talk the talk.
Yun Goeun, Camellia D. Magna, they can do plenty of talking. They have plenty big egos. As far as they’re concerned, their shit don’t stink. But for all that bloviated nonsense, they lack the heart necessary to truly BE something in this industry. They simply don’t have ‘IT’. Yun Goeun displayed that just a few short weeks ago when she turned her back on her fans, quit fighting for what she stood for and blamed all of her shortcomings on the fans. Instead of striving to improve herself, she’s resorted to making excuses. Somehow her failures… her inability to be better than she truly can be is their fault. Now she’s copping out. She’s just here ‘to get paid.’ Gold means nothing to her. Winning means nothing to her. She’s perfectly comfortable showing up to her so-called ‘job’, ‘getting paid’ and being less than mediocre. This does not a champion make, and it will be my pleasure to dispose of this embarrassment to MY sport quickly and painfully.
Ms. Magna, meanwhile, well...what is there to say without being an insultingly arrogant prick? Well...nothing really, so I’ll just leave it at this...for all the talent Camellia boasts, she is a shell of what she once was or what she was thought she could ever be. Maybe reality has finally caught up to her. Maybe time has passed her by. Either way, the pairing with Yun is not doing her any favors.
These are two individuals who, while competitive talents who can certainly hold their own on any given night, lack what it takes to be a champion here in the FGA. They’re not champions, they’re not contenders, they’re just bodies who happen to inhabit a slot on the roster right now.
Myself, Luke Jackson, we are the total package. We are focused, lethal athletes with the spirit and all the talent necessary to thrive in every possible situation. When we set a goal, we do everything in our power to ensure we achieve it. Nothing will stand in our way. Unlike our opponents at Vertigo, we have what it takes, we have that fight in us not just to be contenders here in FGA, but to be champions. And we’re going to prove it in this tournament!”
Ricky pauses for a moment, keeping his blue eyes focused on the camera in front of him. He swears slightly in the cold Boston night, a fog escaping his lips with every breath.
“Don’t get me wrong, there is plenty of talent in this tournament. We all want to earn our way to the gold, for sure. But there is not another team as talented as we are. There is not another team with as much heart and determination as us. They want to doubt us? Recall shit that happened over six months ago between us as a reason for why we can’t coexist?”
Suddenly, Luke Jackson steps into the picture beside Ricky and a sly grin creeps across both their faces.
“But we’re both standing right here. United. One team with a common goal. And there’s nothing no one can do to keep us from achieving that goal now. No one will keep us from winning this tournament and earning our shot at the FGA World Tag Team Championships!
Joker’s might be wild, but we’re a stone-cold lock to win it all. Yun, Camellia, say your prayers and bring everything you’ve got cause it’s time to play, and Luke and myself? Oh, we’re ready!”
With that, we fade to black.
Red Hook, Brooklyn, NY
June 27, 2015
8:43 p.m.
The lavish Liberty Warehouse is jam-packed with men and women, some dressed casually and others in far less conservative attire--more specifically, there is a lot of cosplay going on. That’s because on this warm June evening, Jessica Sears and boyfriend Luke Jackson are throwing a free-for-all video game bash for all of their friends.
Tonight, as has become the case over the last half a decade or so, the Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn is overflowing with hipsters and comic book nerds. There are people playing video games everywhere, on screens from 32 inches to 50 feet. Every system you can think of is in the house tonight...NES, SNES, Sega Genesis, Playstation, X-Box 360. Someone even brought a Sega freakin Saturn!
Ricky Valero is like a kid on Christmas morning as he enters the large conference center. His jaw might as well be on the floor as his eyes wander throughout the room. On his arm is the lovely Mayu Ito. In a few weeks time, she would be his girlfriend, but tonight, they were merely friends with a shared love interest. They had gotten quite comfortable with one another, and this was one of the first times the two were actually out together in such a public setting.
“Ricky,” Mayu says with a giggle. “Are you okay?”
“I’m...I’m not totally sure. I think I might be dead. This has to be Heaven.”
Now, Mayu bursts into full-on laughter, her head falling to his shoulder as she’s on the verge of tears. “Well I appreciate you allowing me to be here with you!”
He smirks as he looks at her out of the corner of his eye. “If this is Heaven, I’m pretty sure you’re the only reason I’m here, sweetheart.”
Always the charmer. It’s those kind words that have helped Ricky break down Mayu’s walls. But really, it’s Mayu whose work getting close to Ricky deserved a gold medal, or at the very least, a chocolate chip cookie. Ricky wasn’t one to confide in many people. Just about everyone in his past left him in shambles at one time or another. He always tried to keep his distance, relying on playing the field rather than settling down with one woman. Mayu was close to changing that for Ricky for the first time in six years, when he divorced ex-wife Rochelle McCree.
“Ricky-sama!” a voice shouts from across the room. Ricky searches the scene, but the source of the voice cannot be found. “Ricky-sama!!!!”
That is until he’s been literally tackled to the floor by none other than the beautiful young blonde herself, Jessica Sears.
“What the--” he says as he crashes to the carpet.
Jessica plants a friendly kiss on Ricky’s cheek as she scurries to her feet, dusting herself up as she does. Ricky, meanwhile, leans up in a seated position on the floor, sucking his teeth with a grin on his face.
“Well hello to you too!” He can’t help but laugh. At least until he spots Luke Jackson, her boyfriend and fellow Pride wrestler, standing behind her with a less-than-thrilled look on his face. Ricky smirks. “And hello to you, Luke.”
However, Luke just nods his head in response, sorta uttering the words, “hey,” but not really. The tension between Ricky and Luke has been growing for months, and Jessica was the reason why. They were too close. They spent too much time together, and frankly, he didn’t trust Ricky. Ricky’s past had been well documented. The guy was a pig who would do anything to get into any girl’s pants. Why should he believe this situation was any different?
Unfortunately for Mayu, she faced a similar predicament. If there had been anything that really concerned her about Ricky, it was his relationship with Jessica. What were they and what impact did it have on what she and Ricky were--or could be? It was hard to miss the fact that Ricky worshipped the ground Jessica walked on.
“Are you guys having fun?” Ricky asked, really only concerned with Jessica’s happiness and doing his best to make sure Luke knew he was blowing him off.
“Hai!” Jessica squealed in a high-pitched tone that brought a smile to Ricky’s face. Of course she was having fun, there were games of Super Smash Bros., Mario Kart, Resident Evil and more going on throughout the party. For a gamer geek such as herself, it was impossible for her NOT to have fun tonight.
Even with Mayu at his hip, Ricky’s eyes are unmoved from Jessica. There’s just something about her presence in his life that eases his stomach. One would never know it by watching him do his thing inside the ring, but Ricky’s personal life wasn’t exactly a bed of roses. He had been through some hell, and Jessica’s friendship helped him forget a lot about that. As for Luke, he stopped caring about how he felt a long time ago. Ricky tried to keep it civil, but it was evident now that would never be the case. Jessica was Luke’s possession, and Ricky was the evil thief trying to take her out from under him. As far as Ricky and Jessica were concerned, that could not be further from the truth, but alas…
“We’re definitely going to have to get a game of Mario Party in before the night is over,” Ricky said as he took hold of Mayu’s hand in his. “Mayu’s been chomping at the bit excited to play that one on the big screen.”
Finally trying to be civil, Luke responded, “I think that’s a great idea. We need to get around to saying hello to everyone here, but we’ll link back up…” But before Luke can finish his statement, he’s interrupted by the sound of a woman clearing her throat.
“Ahem…”
Ricky’s eyes are suddenly transfixed on the new blonde standing before them. She’s a natural beauty with long hair and a mischievous air about her.
“Of course,” Luke says suddenly, stepping aside to introduce the cute blonde. “Mayu you know her already, Ricky...this is my big sister, Larissa. Larissa, Ricky Valero.”
Ricky extends his hand to her with a devilish grin on his face as the two share in a gentle handshake. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Larissa.”
“The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Valero,” she replies with a smirk of her.
“Please, call me Ricky…”
Luke eyeballs Ricky once again unsure of whether or not he can trust the so-called “Franchise”. Nonetheless, he extends his hand to shake Ricky’s hand as well.
“I’m glad you could make it, Ricky. Mayu, as always. We’ll catch up later on tonight when things slow down. Have fun, walk around, jump into some games. It should be a great night!”
“We definitely will,” Ricky responds. He and Mayu watch as the three of them walk off, Jessica giggling uncontrollably as a result of utter joy. Larissa trails behind them, nodding her head with a smile to Ricky and Mayu. He turns to Mayu with a shit-eating grin, “You trying to get your butt whooped in some Marvel vs. Capcom?”
Mayu scoffs with derisive laughter. “Bring it on, old man. When I’m done with you, you’re going to wish the stock market crash of 1929 was the worst thing that ever happened to you!”
“Wow...Old jokes, really?!”
Mayu snickers, planting a kiss firmly on Ricky’s cheek as the two head off to find an available gaming setup.
.
.
.
Journal Entry #710
Strange Bedfellows
1/5/2016
I have a chance to take a step forward. As a man and as a wrestler...I have a chance to do something right for a change. It’s definitely not what I was expecting.
Thrust into a tournament for FGA with the number one contendership for the World Tag Team Championships at stake, I probably never would’ve predicted Luke Jackson would be the man I’d have to rely on as my tag partner. We haven’t always been fond of each other, after all. With good reason, of course, and on both ends, but I’d have been hard pressed to believe the two of us could stand side by side inside a ring without turning and trying to strangle the other before the first bell ever rang. Today, however, I feel confident.
I’m honestly not sure I can trust Luke Jackson, but I have to try. There’s too much on the line for both of us, and if I’m going to ascend in this company as I intend to, I’m apparently going to need his help to make that happen. Our first challenge is not a walk in the park by any means either. But then, I’m not sure any match against a FGA competitor could be. These competitors are good. Better than I’ve faced in a long time, and it’s nice to be among this crop of wrestlers keeping the sport I love great.
Luke and I, we cannot afford to fail. We both have high aspirations for ourselves in this company, and even though we know it will take everything in us to succeed in this tournament, we’re willing to sacrifice that and more to make it happen. I’m just thankful we have seemingly been able to get through the rough patch, accept what happened over six months ago and move forward. We didn’t have much of a chance anyway, not if we really want to win this tournament and challenge for those tag straps.
As for me personally, I’m feeling optimistic for 2016. But then, how couldn’t I? 33 years old and improving every day in the ring, accompanied by my beautiful girlfriend Mayu and my amazing, smart and funny son Little Richie, life is better than I can remember. Mayu is patient with me, and she’s one hell of a fighter too. She just keeps pushing me to be better. A better boyfriend, a better father, a better man. It’s taken a long time to get things right, but in 2016, I may just have it all figured out!
.
.
.
"Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful."
- Proverbs 27:6
(rec)
The camera fades in on Ricky Valero standing outside the Matthews Arena in Boston. A single light hangs over his head, coloring him in a gentle orange hue with shade all around him. It’s cold--about 34° F--on this January evening, so he’s bundled up pretty well in a navy blue duffle coat over his sweatsuit.
He looks into the camera in front of him with a casual smirk on his face. He is comfortable. Confident. Even with an important match upcoming so soon in his FGA career, he is carefree, jovial even. There is plenty for Ricky to stress about in life. Wrestling has never been one of those things.
“I was nervous,” he admits with a chuckle. “I won’t deny it. As passionate as I am about this business, as good as I KNOW I am, I always get a little anxious before a debut for a new promotion. I want to go out there and blow everyone away. The crowd, the front office, my opponent...everyone. So I stepped into the ring inside the Grand Ballroom at the Manhattan Center against Aries Reed with much to prove: Could Ricky Valero still hang 15 years into this career of his? Could he still be a viable competitor in a promotion as competitive as the FGA? It’s only one match, but I like to think I answered any questions that may have existed with a resounding yes!
There should be no doubt about it. Ricky Valero is the real deal. Ricky Valero is not to be taken lightly. A newcomer? Sure. But you better believe I’m one of the most lethal threats on the roster now. My presence has changed the entire landscape here in FGA. The game as you all knew it has changed, and I’m not being cocky when I saw that I firmly believe I can and will position myself as the greatest talent on the FGA roster before 2016 is through. As a singles competitor, there will be no comparison.
But...can Ricky Valero survive as one half of a less-than-formidable tag-team duo?”
Ricky scoffs as he sucks his teeth and mulls over his ensuing words.
“There had been no love lost between myself and Luke Jackson. It is well documented. Guy dates girl. Girl befriends Better Looking Guy. Guy gets super jealous, and before we know it, Guy and Better Looking Guy are on a warpath to tear each other limb from limb. It’s your classic Nicholas Sparks novel infused with a little Transformers. We’ve all seen it a hundred times, so yes, I can understand why some would see the trouble with this pairing. When that old company closed up shop, things were never settled and everything was left on bad terms.
The animosity between the two of us was unmistakable. And who could blame Luke for being jealous...I mean look at me,” he says with a sparkle in his eye and shit-eating grin on his mug. “But all that animosity was a lifetime ago as far as we’re concerned. We are adults fully capable of setting bullshit aside. We’ve moved on. He’s MARRIED to the homegirl Jules, and I’ve been with my girlfriend since July. Bygones are bygones. The hatchet is buried. There are much bigger things at stake in this tag team tournament, and we both have one thing and one thing only in mind: victory.
Victory won’t come easy. In order for us to earn that tag team title shot, we’re going to have to overcome some substantial obstacles to get there. The first of which comes in the form of a talented duo, Yun Goeun and Camellia D. Magna.”
He pauses for a moment, nodding his head in approval of his and Luke’s opponents in the semi-final round of the Joker’s Wild Tag Team Tournament at the next installment of Vertigo.
“Luke and myself, we’re not stupid. We knew going into this tournament we would be tested. We know everyone’s going to want to see just how legitimate this little bond is between the two of us. Can we withstand it all in a high-pressure situation? Can we resist the urge to pack it in and leave the other hanging high and dry? But as I said, Luke and myself, we’re in it to win it. We’re both here in FGA seeking triumph. It’s one thing to take about how great you are. It’s another thing to back it up with gold to show for it. I’ll admit this is not the conventional route either of us is used to, but if tag team gold is what it takes to ascend up the FGA ladder and improve our prospects toward gaining that top spot? I’m all for it!
That’s a disastrous reality for Yun Goeun and Ms. Magna, both of whom have the misfortune of being collateral damage along our journey. Ladies, let me be direct here in saying it will be an honor to make our tag debut against the two of you. However, I must be blunt when I tell you this: You are going to lose. No ifs. No ands. No buts. You are going to lose, and it doesn’t matter what you bring to the party. Chairs swinging, guns blazing. You’re hopeless. There are things in life that are inevitable, and ladies, Ricky Valero and Luke Jackson winning this tag tournament is a mere certainty.
‘But how can you be so confident, Ricky? How can you be so sure you and Luke are going to win, much less get along with one another for an entire match?’”
A genuine smile suddenly stretches across Ricky’s face.
“In this industry, there are traits that separate the contenders from the pretenders. Everyone has talent. If they’ve come this far, they can hold their own for a seven-minute matchup and escape with a victory every once in awhile. But the contenders, the individuals who have the potential to be something special and the determination to live up to those expectations...you see it in the way they carry themselves. Inside the ring. Outside the ring. They don’t just walk the walk. They talk the talk.
Yun Goeun, Camellia D. Magna, they can do plenty of talking. They have plenty big egos. As far as they’re concerned, their shit don’t stink. But for all that bloviated nonsense, they lack the heart necessary to truly BE something in this industry. They simply don’t have ‘IT’. Yun Goeun displayed that just a few short weeks ago when she turned her back on her fans, quit fighting for what she stood for and blamed all of her shortcomings on the fans. Instead of striving to improve herself, she’s resorted to making excuses. Somehow her failures… her inability to be better than she truly can be is their fault. Now she’s copping out. She’s just here ‘to get paid.’ Gold means nothing to her. Winning means nothing to her. She’s perfectly comfortable showing up to her so-called ‘job’, ‘getting paid’ and being less than mediocre. This does not a champion make, and it will be my pleasure to dispose of this embarrassment to MY sport quickly and painfully.
Ms. Magna, meanwhile, well...what is there to say without being an insultingly arrogant prick? Well...nothing really, so I’ll just leave it at this...for all the talent Camellia boasts, she is a shell of what she once was or what she was thought she could ever be. Maybe reality has finally caught up to her. Maybe time has passed her by. Either way, the pairing with Yun is not doing her any favors.
These are two individuals who, while competitive talents who can certainly hold their own on any given night, lack what it takes to be a champion here in the FGA. They’re not champions, they’re not contenders, they’re just bodies who happen to inhabit a slot on the roster right now.
Myself, Luke Jackson, we are the total package. We are focused, lethal athletes with the spirit and all the talent necessary to thrive in every possible situation. When we set a goal, we do everything in our power to ensure we achieve it. Nothing will stand in our way. Unlike our opponents at Vertigo, we have what it takes, we have that fight in us not just to be contenders here in FGA, but to be champions. And we’re going to prove it in this tournament!”
Ricky pauses for a moment, keeping his blue eyes focused on the camera in front of him. He swears slightly in the cold Boston night, a fog escaping his lips with every breath.
“Don’t get me wrong, there is plenty of talent in this tournament. We all want to earn our way to the gold, for sure. But there is not another team as talented as we are. There is not another team with as much heart and determination as us. They want to doubt us? Recall shit that happened over six months ago between us as a reason for why we can’t coexist?”
Suddenly, Luke Jackson steps into the picture beside Ricky and a sly grin creeps across both their faces.
“But we’re both standing right here. United. One team with a common goal. And there’s nothing no one can do to keep us from achieving that goal now. No one will keep us from winning this tournament and earning our shot at the FGA World Tag Team Championships!
IT’S GAME TIME BABY!
Joker’s might be wild, but we’re a stone-cold lock to win it all. Yun, Camellia, say your prayers and bring everything you’ve got cause it’s time to play, and Luke and myself? Oh, we’re ready!”
With that, we fade to black.