Post by The Nihilists on Apr 9, 2021 21:34:35 GMT -5
~We hear the sound of echoing footsteps. The sound is a hollow sound, like an echo chamber, boot soles on marble or granite. The atmosphere is unusually bright. For a team steeped in darkness, the new compound that the Nihilists have set up is full of bright lights, amenities, and room to grow. Gebin slowly approaches the Fireside World Champion in the inner sanctum. The room is bright and white, tiles match the ceiling. The room is a dome on the top of the small building they have had constructed for themselves in Philadelphia. An unassuming shack in the outskirts of the bustling city hub.~
~Esmur’s eyes open. His meditation time at an end, he slowly rises to his feet from his cross-legged position. He is in a brown A-shirt (guinea tee for you northeasterners). He pulls his title belt from the dais in front of him. He looks at his partner with tired eyes.~
~Gebin furrows his brow and squints deep into the eyes of his friend~
~Esmur throws his robe over his shirt/sweatpants ensemble and the two men loudly plod through the meditation chamber and down a flight of wooden stairs into a single room comprising the kitchen and living room. Gebin hurdles the couch and lands on his butt on the reclined reclining lounger sectional. Esmur calmly goes to the kitchen and pours two glasses of tea. It seems Gebin had prepared the water before approaching his ally. Esmur inhales deeply from the cup of green liquid. He stares into the cup as steam frames his face.~
~Esmur sits next to Gebin and hands him the second cup of green tea. Esmur takes a subtle sip and his stress seems to melt as his face shows the tea is working. Gebin takes a larger gulp after seeing this, and promptly burns his tongue.~
~Esmur blows on his tea and the steam billows towards Gebin. He takes a sip and places the cup on a saucer. From the table next to them, Esmur grabs their campstove and turns it on. The flame is tall, violent, and orange. As he chokes out the gas it gasps, sputters and dies.~
~The flame is ignited again and this time he turns the valve to change the gas flow and oxygen input, and the flame becomes more focused, blue, transparent, and calm.~
~Esmur blows on the tea once more and then downs the cup in one long sip. He nods to Gebin who does the same. He turns off the campstove and leaves Esmur on the couch to go rinse the china. Esmur sighs and looks to the camera that had been following them, acknowledging it for the first time.~
~Emur blinks and waits as if he expects a response. He leans toward the camera with a hand cupped to his ear.~
~Esmur sits back into his meditation pose on the couch~
~Gebin leaps onto the couch next to him~
~Fade~
"I believe the time for radio silence is over, my friend. You’ve got another defense to be prepared for."
~Esmur’s eyes open. His meditation time at an end, he slowly rises to his feet from his cross-legged position. He is in a brown A-shirt (guinea tee for you northeasterners). He pulls his title belt from the dais in front of him. He looks at his partner with tired eyes.~
"Of course my friend."
~Gebin furrows his brow and squints deep into the eyes of his friend~
"You are anticipating another interruption from … Them."
"Anticipating is the wrong word. A statement has to be made and we both know they are good for that. Their name is spoken in hushed terms by those they have fought. I am not afraid, but I must be prepared. I will not lose this title because of mind games or shenanigans. If I lose to Daku, he will need to earn it. And if MAJESTY wants a shot at me, they can also get in line and come at me. I am no paper tiger. I am no glass cannon. I am EXPECTING their attempt to make me … us! … Daku, you, and myself … look like pissants. I am trying to build this title into something to be championed around the entire network, not just here in Philly."
"Misha didn’t exactly hurt that, he is a supremely talented fighter who simply got in his own way. Otto is no slouch either."
"Yes, but this Suzuki … may be on another level. He is only improving every showing. And that says nothing for the threat ever looming from MAJESTY and MYOJIN who most assuredly see themselves as the next in line for my title. But this title is mine. And I will not relinquish it without a fight. It is our duty to make sure when this title passes from my hands, it is to a worthy champion, after an epic match. And I am not done using this title to amplify our message. You’ve heard the talk coming from the rumble fighters. None of them are focusing on the beauty of life. They are all wasting their youth and health on these angry thoughts. Even our federation’s owner. It’s one big shitstorm out there and it is up to us to rise above it. If not or Fireside and this title … then for the future of our compatriots on this network, and our own clout in this business."
~Esmur throws his robe over his shirt/sweatpants ensemble and the two men loudly plod through the meditation chamber and down a flight of wooden stairs into a single room comprising the kitchen and living room. Gebin hurdles the couch and lands on his butt on the reclined reclining lounger sectional. Esmur calmly goes to the kitchen and pours two glasses of tea. It seems Gebin had prepared the water before approaching his ally. Esmur inhales deeply from the cup of green liquid. He stares into the cup as steam frames his face.~
"Heavy is the head that wears the crown. It is funny how much more you feel the weight of every match as a singles competitor. It’s both exhausting … and exhilarating. And this time, more than ever, I must be ready to bear this weight myself. After our entrance you will be banished from ringside. And we will see if I am focused enough on my own to take down the knife of Hamamatsu."
"You are up to the challenge Esmur. You handled Misha basically on your own. You bested Otto on your own. Your submissions and experience will carry you to victory."
~Esmur sits next to Gebin and hands him the second cup of green tea. Esmur takes a subtle sip and his stress seems to melt as his face shows the tea is working. Gebin takes a larger gulp after seeing this, and promptly burns his tongue.~
"GAH! Patience, thy virtue is lost on me."
"Patience is something my opponent seems to be lacking. It is evident in his brawling style. A man well versed in the technical aspects of wrestling who chooses to come out guns blazing, fists flying. It is my surest advantage. My patience, my years of experience as a counter fighter, and my targeted assaults. As much as the fire within Daku burns bright, brigher maybe than even Otto or Misha … his flame is not refined. Orange, soot-producing, burning bright and fast and choking itself out."
~Esmur blows on his tea and the steam billows towards Gebin. He takes a sip and places the cup on a saucer. From the table next to them, Esmur grabs their campstove and turns it on. The flame is tall, violent, and orange. As he chokes out the gas it gasps, sputters and dies.~
"But my fire is a more honed and toned flame. Refined to perfection, exact and deadly. A more elegant and beautiful blue combustion, with no remnant or side products. It is an instrument of destruction, and a tool for work."
~The flame is ignited again and this time he turns the valve to change the gas flow and oxygen input, and the flame becomes more focused, blue, transparent, and calm.~
"Going into our tag team match, Daku did the minimal research, relying on public knowledge and instinct. And we saw how he treated his partners. Abandoning them to their demise. No honor among thieves."
"He seems unfamiliar with joshi wrestling. Kira Izumi in J-ROK would have a word. And Stardom. And NJPW. Mistress Discipline was the fifth place finisher in last year’s rumble. And we are the 2019 tag team of the year. Clearly google is too complex for this one. But that is not important. You’ve seen us in person now. And you know that my technical prowess is unmatched in that ring. There is no other wrestler in Fireside on my level with ring acumen and submissions."
~Esmur blows on the tea once more and then downs the cup in one long sip. He nods to Gebin who does the same. He turns off the campstove and leaves Esmur on the couch to go rinse the china. Esmur sighs and looks to the camera that had been following them, acknowledging it for the first time.~
"Suzuki, your motorcycle dealership and gang mean nothing to me. But as you can see, I at least did the honor of researching my opponent. I would hope you could respect me enough to do the same. I hold this world title that you … SEEM … to want. Right? If nothing else the belt itself proves I am a talent worthy of your focus. I don’t think you understand the gravity of this match, the weight behind the honor you seek. Misha, Otto, MAJESTY, Mistress, MYOJIN … they understand. They respect these achievements and the people obtaining them. Despite whatever any of them may be, or think of other people, they see this title for the honor it is. And they understand the strength required to heft this weighty prize. What does this title mean to you?"
~Emur blinks and waits as if he expects a response. He leans toward the camera with a hand cupped to his ear.~
"I’m sorry, your answer was lost under all the noise. Perhaps your machines need mufflers. Business acumen and killer instinct aren’t enough here. I expect you to bring me your everything. And in turn … I expect my everything to be the weight needed to keep your head submerged."
~Esmur sits back into his meditation pose on the couch~
"I don’t expect you to understand the power of the silence the void provides. But fret not. I will relieve you of the need to carry this weight. And I will break your body and spirit at once. Patience is a virtue Daku. And my victory? Is divine. Or as close as is possible to that meaningless word. ~he smirks~ Give me your best shot knife of motorcycles."
~Gebin leaps onto the couch next to him~
"The emissary of the abyss will return the favor. Embrace eternity."
"And let eternity embrace you..."
~Fade~