Josh #10: Vermilion
Jul 27, 2016 4:41:54 GMT -5
Post by pete on Jul 27, 2016 4:41:54 GMT -5
So this is it.
The camera fades up on Josh in the LDFC training facility, specifically the gym. The room is relatively empty, with only a few people warming up in the background. Josh is sat on a weight bench, towel draped over his shoulder, sweat glistening on his skin.
I’ve been racking my brains for what feels like weeks now, trying to think of a way I can sum up to you guys how I feel about this… The Old North Qualifier.
A faint smile.
And I’m not getting ahead of myself; I know this isn’t a title match. It’s not even a number one contender’s match, but rather a match to see if I even get into a number one contender’s match… but still.... Yeah, still don’t know how to describe the feeling.
He stretches his neck out, pulling down on the towel to offer resistance as he does so.
Recently… it feels like every match is the biggest match of my career. And maybe it is, you know? I’ve said it before… I’m not the newbie anymore. The bookers are throwing bigger and harder challenges at me, they’re not going easy on me… so I can’t go easy on me.
He counts off on his fingers as he speaks.
Hana Song. Keegan Hightower. Butcher. Week after week… they’re testing me, I know that now. Pushing me to progress. Candy-sensei… Mister Bond… They’ve put faith in me I never expected, you know? It’s… I don’t know. It’s reassuring, I guess. A sign I’m on the right path. And now I’m in this qualifier… I’ve been accepted for the Rookie X Cup… Maybe, just maybe… I can do this. Hey, it’s one thing to need to do something. It’s something else entirely to be capable of it.
Eyes head up to the ceiling accompanied by a light sigh.
I said I’m not the newbie any more… and it’s things like this match that proves it. Rab IS the newbie. Well, one of them. And I’m not going to lie, you wouldn’t believe it to watch him in action. He’s blown my early days out of the water, plus he’s a great guy… if a little hard to understand at times.
His eyes have come back down, and now he looks back into the camera.
I’m going to beat Rab this week.
A chuckle.
Man, did I sound as arrogant to you guys as I did to myself? I really didn’t mean it to sound that bad. I was aiming for “confident”. I certainly don’t feel like I’m better than Rab just because I’ve been here longer than him, or I’ve had some high profile wins than late. Or for any reason, for that matter. I’m not saying I’m better than him at all, really. But I need this win. And I need it more than him. So I’m going to go out there, I’m going to give it everything I have, and I’m going to win. I’ve got to, really. The alternative…
A sigh, as he shakes his head.
I’m not saying it’d be a disgrace to lose to Rab, really. Man I’m really sounding like a douche this morning. Look. Every move I’ve made these past… two months? It been a step forward. Some of them baby steps. Some of them massive leaps. But they’re all steps towards a goal, and I can’t afford to stumble now. I made a promise to a friend a long time ago… and I can’t let him down, not again.
The smile fades from his face, replaced by a hint of sadness.
Rab… this isn’t personal, OK? I like you, you’re a great guy, mad as a box of frogs, but in all the right ways. You want to do this, then go out for milkshakes, I’m all over that. But I need to be in that title match. Which means I need to be in that contenders match. Which in turn means I’ve got to go through you.
A gentle shake of the head.
I wish it was someone else, someone I didn’t like, didn’t know, whatever. But as Annie tells me, you’ve gotta fight your friends eventually. I guess I just didn’t expect it to ever actually happen. More fool me, I suppose.
He shrugs.
I really should get back to my work out… look. One last thing. Rab? Sincerely, may the better man win. I’m working hard to be that better man… but if I’m not, it’s not you I’ll be upset with, it’ll be me. As I’ve said, I need to win. I need to prove my friends’ faith in me. I need to keep my promise…
A distant look settles in his eye, accompanied by a resigned sigh, before he leans forward and switches off the camera.
The camera fades up on Josh in the LDFC training facility, specifically the gym. The room is relatively empty, with only a few people warming up in the background. Josh is sat on a weight bench, towel draped over his shoulder, sweat glistening on his skin.
I’ve been racking my brains for what feels like weeks now, trying to think of a way I can sum up to you guys how I feel about this… The Old North Qualifier.
A faint smile.
And I’m not getting ahead of myself; I know this isn’t a title match. It’s not even a number one contender’s match, but rather a match to see if I even get into a number one contender’s match… but still.... Yeah, still don’t know how to describe the feeling.
He stretches his neck out, pulling down on the towel to offer resistance as he does so.
Recently… it feels like every match is the biggest match of my career. And maybe it is, you know? I’ve said it before… I’m not the newbie anymore. The bookers are throwing bigger and harder challenges at me, they’re not going easy on me… so I can’t go easy on me.
He counts off on his fingers as he speaks.
Hana Song. Keegan Hightower. Butcher. Week after week… they’re testing me, I know that now. Pushing me to progress. Candy-sensei… Mister Bond… They’ve put faith in me I never expected, you know? It’s… I don’t know. It’s reassuring, I guess. A sign I’m on the right path. And now I’m in this qualifier… I’ve been accepted for the Rookie X Cup… Maybe, just maybe… I can do this. Hey, it’s one thing to need to do something. It’s something else entirely to be capable of it.
Eyes head up to the ceiling accompanied by a light sigh.
I said I’m not the newbie any more… and it’s things like this match that proves it. Rab IS the newbie. Well, one of them. And I’m not going to lie, you wouldn’t believe it to watch him in action. He’s blown my early days out of the water, plus he’s a great guy… if a little hard to understand at times.
His eyes have come back down, and now he looks back into the camera.
I’m going to beat Rab this week.
A chuckle.
Man, did I sound as arrogant to you guys as I did to myself? I really didn’t mean it to sound that bad. I was aiming for “confident”. I certainly don’t feel like I’m better than Rab just because I’ve been here longer than him, or I’ve had some high profile wins than late. Or for any reason, for that matter. I’m not saying I’m better than him at all, really. But I need this win. And I need it more than him. So I’m going to go out there, I’m going to give it everything I have, and I’m going to win. I’ve got to, really. The alternative…
A sigh, as he shakes his head.
I’m not saying it’d be a disgrace to lose to Rab, really. Man I’m really sounding like a douche this morning. Look. Every move I’ve made these past… two months? It been a step forward. Some of them baby steps. Some of them massive leaps. But they’re all steps towards a goal, and I can’t afford to stumble now. I made a promise to a friend a long time ago… and I can’t let him down, not again.
The smile fades from his face, replaced by a hint of sadness.
Rab… this isn’t personal, OK? I like you, you’re a great guy, mad as a box of frogs, but in all the right ways. You want to do this, then go out for milkshakes, I’m all over that. But I need to be in that title match. Which means I need to be in that contenders match. Which in turn means I’ve got to go through you.
A gentle shake of the head.
I wish it was someone else, someone I didn’t like, didn’t know, whatever. But as Annie tells me, you’ve gotta fight your friends eventually. I guess I just didn’t expect it to ever actually happen. More fool me, I suppose.
He shrugs.
I really should get back to my work out… look. One last thing. Rab? Sincerely, may the better man win. I’m working hard to be that better man… but if I’m not, it’s not you I’ll be upset with, it’ll be me. As I’ve said, I need to win. I need to prove my friends’ faith in me. I need to keep my promise…
A distant look settles in his eye, accompanied by a resigned sigh, before he leans forward and switches off the camera.