Josh #11: Cyan
Aug 8, 2016 19:59:24 GMT -5
Post by pete on Aug 8, 2016 19:59:24 GMT -5
Off-Camera
Number One Contender: Josh Mitchell.
LDFC competitor Josh Mitchell leans on the desk in his room, facing his PC. On the screen is none other than his (recently declared) girlfriend, Ashleigh Powell.
You’ve got to admit, it sounds pretty good.
Not being able to stop himself, he smiles.
Well… maybe. But I’m not there yet. I mean, it was always the dream. To be ta-
He stops himself, tries to cover with a cough.
To be champ. I mean… that’s the ultimate goal. It has to be, otherwise, well, what’s the point. But I never thought it would happen so quick. I mean, I’ve only been doing this…
6 months. Half a year. It’s longer than you think. You said you were going to stop thinking like that.
A moment or two of silence.
I did. Sorry.
And stop apologising.
Sor-
She gives him a stern look via the internet.
Right, OK.
The frown gives way to a smile.
You know you’re good enough to do this, right? And I’m not just saying this as your girlfriend. I know how to watch tape, how to analyse matches, and you’re getting stronger every single week. Less mistakes. More aggression. More move variety.
Sorry I didn’t hear anything after girlfriend.
Oh Josh…
What? I’m kidding! I mean it, I’m kidding. And I know what you mean. Candy-sensei keeps on telling me I’m too harsh on myself too. And Maritza. And my mom. It’s just…
I know what it’s just. Trust me, I do. But one day you’re going to have to stop letting that define you, to stop holding you back, and just be you.
The me of before was a douche. You wouldn’t have liked him.
Then don’t be that you. Be a better you. Be the you who’s kind and worries about his friends, even when they just blow him off. Be the you who’s conscious about not being a douche, because that’s half of what it is not to be a douche. But mostly be the you who can actually accept that maybe, just maybe, he’s actually quite good at this profession he’s got himself in.
...
You know I’m right.
I’m aware of that I’m just trying to think of a way to acknowledge that without outright admitting it.
She sticks her tongue out in response.
So tell me about your opponent. I want to make sure you’re doing your scouting properly.
Trying to be my coach now? His name is Shintaro Majima. He’s good. Strong Style, similar to Hana, but less kicky and more clothesliney slammy, I guess?
Kicky? Clothesliney? Slammy? Are these... technical terms?
Another sticking out of the tongue, this time from Josh.
You know what I mean. And, well… I’ve struggled with Strong Style before. Hana was a prime example. I thought that maybe, just maybe, I was good enough. But my balance, my speed, it’s like… It’s like they’re the scissors to my paper.
Hey, is that any way to think?
I know, I know. And I’m trying to work on it. Candy-sensei has been giving me extra lessons just based on how to fight that. I’ve watched tape after tape, not just of Shintaro, but of stuff from Candy-sensei’s company in Japan. And I want this win Ash, I really do. I want to… no, I need to make people proud of me. Mom. Scott… You… And I think I’ve got my head around it… but that’s not enough. I just don’t know…
Well there’s your problem.
Josh, for his part, looks really confused.
Sorry what?
You don’t know. Maybe you should concentrate less on what you don’t know, and more what you do know.
I don’t understand.
A slightly annoyed sigh from the computer.
You keep on getting wrapped up in not knowing this or that. You don’t know if something’s enough. You don’t know if you sound confident or arrogant. Stop it. Stop thinking about that, and concentrate more on getting the stuff you know right. Concentrate on your positioning, your stance, your strategy. If you make what you know as good as it can be, then what you don’t know won’t matter as much. The world is full of unknowns. You just need to be confident enough in what you do know for that not to matter.
Josh looks a little shocked. Slowly, though, he warms to a knowing smile.
Have I told you today that you’re great?
Eh, probably? Wouldn’t hurt to hear it again though.
The pair both laugh, before simultaneously sighing, and looking into each others’ eyes.
Miss you.
Number One Contender: Josh Mitchell.
LDFC competitor Josh Mitchell leans on the desk in his room, facing his PC. On the screen is none other than his (recently declared) girlfriend, Ashleigh Powell.
You’ve got to admit, it sounds pretty good.
Not being able to stop himself, he smiles.
Well… maybe. But I’m not there yet. I mean, it was always the dream. To be ta-
He stops himself, tries to cover with a cough.
To be champ. I mean… that’s the ultimate goal. It has to be, otherwise, well, what’s the point. But I never thought it would happen so quick. I mean, I’ve only been doing this…
6 months. Half a year. It’s longer than you think. You said you were going to stop thinking like that.
A moment or two of silence.
I did. Sorry.
And stop apologising.
Sor-
She gives him a stern look via the internet.
Right, OK.
The frown gives way to a smile.
You know you’re good enough to do this, right? And I’m not just saying this as your girlfriend. I know how to watch tape, how to analyse matches, and you’re getting stronger every single week. Less mistakes. More aggression. More move variety.
Sorry I didn’t hear anything after girlfriend.
Oh Josh…
What? I’m kidding! I mean it, I’m kidding. And I know what you mean. Candy-sensei keeps on telling me I’m too harsh on myself too. And Maritza. And my mom. It’s just…
I know what it’s just. Trust me, I do. But one day you’re going to have to stop letting that define you, to stop holding you back, and just be you.
The me of before was a douche. You wouldn’t have liked him.
Then don’t be that you. Be a better you. Be the you who’s kind and worries about his friends, even when they just blow him off. Be the you who’s conscious about not being a douche, because that’s half of what it is not to be a douche. But mostly be the you who can actually accept that maybe, just maybe, he’s actually quite good at this profession he’s got himself in.
...
You know I’m right.
I’m aware of that I’m just trying to think of a way to acknowledge that without outright admitting it.
She sticks her tongue out in response.
So tell me about your opponent. I want to make sure you’re doing your scouting properly.
Trying to be my coach now? His name is Shintaro Majima. He’s good. Strong Style, similar to Hana, but less kicky and more clothesliney slammy, I guess?
Kicky? Clothesliney? Slammy? Are these... technical terms?
Another sticking out of the tongue, this time from Josh.
You know what I mean. And, well… I’ve struggled with Strong Style before. Hana was a prime example. I thought that maybe, just maybe, I was good enough. But my balance, my speed, it’s like… It’s like they’re the scissors to my paper.
Hey, is that any way to think?
I know, I know. And I’m trying to work on it. Candy-sensei has been giving me extra lessons just based on how to fight that. I’ve watched tape after tape, not just of Shintaro, but of stuff from Candy-sensei’s company in Japan. And I want this win Ash, I really do. I want to… no, I need to make people proud of me. Mom. Scott… You… And I think I’ve got my head around it… but that’s not enough. I just don’t know…
Well there’s your problem.
Josh, for his part, looks really confused.
Sorry what?
You don’t know. Maybe you should concentrate less on what you don’t know, and more what you do know.
I don’t understand.
A slightly annoyed sigh from the computer.
You keep on getting wrapped up in not knowing this or that. You don’t know if something’s enough. You don’t know if you sound confident or arrogant. Stop it. Stop thinking about that, and concentrate more on getting the stuff you know right. Concentrate on your positioning, your stance, your strategy. If you make what you know as good as it can be, then what you don’t know won’t matter as much. The world is full of unknowns. You just need to be confident enough in what you do know for that not to matter.
Josh looks a little shocked. Slowly, though, he warms to a knowing smile.
Have I told you today that you’re great?
Eh, probably? Wouldn’t hurt to hear it again though.
The pair both laugh, before simultaneously sighing, and looking into each others’ eyes.
Miss you.