[ P U M P K I N S P I C E S H I N E ]

[Deco]

[ P U M P K I N  S P I C E  S H I N E ]





Do you know what it's like to be underestimated, Isabel? I wonder. I wonder if you do.

Deco is running a finger along the top of her oven in her apartment.

I sit here in my shitty apartment. Look, you see that?

The camera spins and films a cockroach scurrying across the circa-1970's countertop in her apartment.

I sit here... I watch the roaches fight over tablescraps that would honestly feed me and my sister. I watch the J-ROK cards go up... I watch them as I took Dylan Black to his limits back in September, almost dethroning the X*Crown Champion... and yet, where am I? I watch as I walk into AWF and nearly topple their whole regime by upsetting the Fired Up tournament... and yet, where am I? Time after time, I prove my worth. I can hang with the best of the best. And yet... I'm nothing. Left to mull it over to myself. I don't get booked. I don't get title shots. I don't get anything. I get this shitty apartment, fighting the roaches for table scraps so that me and my sister can survive.

Deco rises from her bent over position at the kitchen counter and runs a finger along the wall as she bites her lip.

So... it's weird not to be underestimated by someone. You know I'm capable. You know I'm dangerous. You know my strikes are gonna lay you out. I'm not gonna sit here and lecture you on why you're not taking me seriously, Isabel, because... you are taking me seriously. That much is clear.

She drags her finger along the wall and holds it up.

But... you're wrong.

She wags it to the camera.

You're wrong about what you're going to experience in that ring. You think you're going to just launch me by catching a strike? Have you not seen how agile I am? You giving me the momentum of launching me will just help me leap about the ring.

Deco collapses onto her couch, twirling a finger through her hair.

See, Isabel, while I think you respect me... you don't get me. You don't understand me. You have your idea of what I'm like... you think I'm this girl that's gonna knock your block off? Yeah, you're right. But you think I'm the girl who's gonna tap to your Koji clutch. Bitch, whoever said I'd let you get me into the Koji clutch? You think just because you've got thighs like a goddess that means you can just do whatever you want? I'm a triple threat. I'm smart, I'm strong, and I'm fast. Don't let the bomb-ass strikes fool you, Isabel. I'm more than meets the eye.

Deco chuckles a bit and rolls over.

While you're sitting on your cushy little Lake Ontario shore, sipping a nice Pumpkin Spice Lattes or whatever you basic bitches drink, I'm sitting here.

She motions around her.

In this apartment. Fighting the roaches. If I had latte money, it'd be going towards bread. Or medicine. Or hell, clean fucking water. See, that's the difference between me and you, Isabel. You take a vacation to the cold, frigid, miserable shores of Lake Ontario because it's a nice vacation from the status quo. Me? I live there. I live in the uncomfortable, the cold, the unendearing. And that's why people like me will ALWAYS have an advantage over people like you. Because as ready as you think you are... you aren't. You can't learn the art of fending for yourself in a gym. No jiu-jitsu class can teach you how to stay alive. So... when push comes to shove, and we're in that ring? My instincts will kick in. And my instincts will trump your training.

She winks at the camera.

Have fun with your little lakeshore vacay, though. I'm sure it's gonna be totes awesome.