Post by Robbie A on Aug 25, 2022 16:31:50 GMT -5
We fade in on The Academy Gym, Rob Arnold is stood with Trixie Mars who looks as if she’s just finished a workout. Arnold moves away from the corner and paces around her.
“I remember when I first saw you in action. Mainly because that gym smelt like a weed greenhouse, but also because there you were stealing the show, and yet nobody knew who your name was. They all ignored you, passed you by until you flew off the top rope and won the match. Then suddenly they all wanted to know who you were. I knew who you were though, I had I done my homework and let you know, that’s why you listened to me, and only me. Although even then, you still asked me what was in it for you!” He chuckles. “I told you I’d open the doors for you that nobody else was willing to open, and I did. I brought you into The XHF Network, and I brought you to UPW. And then, UPW closes, and before I could ask you where we should head next you begged me to put you in the G1. True to my word, I opened the door for you. I also told you that even though I’d open the doors, you’d still have to walk through them, and I’ll tell you now, you fucking well have.”
He stops pacing and faces Trixie.
“I knew you had the potential, that was evident withing two minutes of watching you in that gym in Portland. What I didn’t know was how much of my help you’d really need. Turns out, not much at all.”
“Now come on, boss.” Trixie humbly begins but Arnold isn’t willing to let her interject.
“I’m not saying I’ve done nothing. But you have come in every day, you’ve listened, you’ve sharpened your skills, you’ve put all the hard work in and you have earned the right to be apart of The Academy. When it’s come to the G1, I was worried about how you would handle the target on your back, the same target that Riley and Leon both have from being associated with me, because I’m not always seen as a positive influence.”
“That’s an understatement.” She scoffs playfully.
“Steady, Trixie.” He glares, albeit with a coy smile. “The worry I had, it may as well not have existed. You’ve handled every challenge almost as well as I would have.”
“Yes, because even with all that personal growth, nobody can be better than you still, right?” Mars rolls her eyes.
“You are correct.” Arnold misses no beat in his reply. “With that in mind, however, and knowing that I’ve got my own thing upcoming with End of Days, I’m leaving you to fly solo, following the conclusion of Collision Course and the G1.”
“Wait, really?”
“Really. And this doesn’t mean I’m not here for you, or Riley, or Leon. It means the three of you are capable of looking after yourselves and each other. I’ll always be a call away.” He folds his arms. “Don’t think that it will change the perception people have of you though. You’ve proved you’re no underdog but they’ll still treat you like one, they’ll still link you to me, they’ll still say you’ve had it easy.”
“Easy? Easy? These people don’t have any idea! It’s not easy growing up without a father. It’s not easy being bullied and disregarded in school. It’s not easy being told your career choice isn’t going to get you anywhere and having your self-belief pulled apart in the process.” She sighs and shakes her head, frustration growing. “Easy? Like my G1 bracket? Please, I’d have done the same to any of those opponents. The pig, the orc, the mime, hell I’d have done it to MYOJIN or Spike Kane because there is no easy in this business. There is no easy in forcing somebody to tap out, there is no easy in making somebody stay down for the count of three and yet there’s three guys and a bunny rabbit all on the wrong end of that!”
“You don’t have to tell me, hell you don’t have to tell them, you just keep showing them. If you beat The Thespian this Saturday then maybe they’ll believe it a little more, maybe they won’t, but I know either way you’ll keep pushing against the tide they keep sending your way. That’s what you do, and I couldn’t be prouder of you for it.” He pats her on the shoulder. “Now get take a break, no point overdoing it this close to the final.”
Trixie nods and exits the ring, quickly heading out of shot. Arnold watches until she’s out of both camera and earshot, and then turns to face the camera.
“You know Thespian, she’s bringing that fire, and I hope you’re ready for it, because I don’t think you’ve experienced anything like what she’s bringing to the table. Sure, you claim to have once been somebody before a mighty tragedy befallen you, but let me be as plain as the outfits you wear, I once wore a mask to hide my identity, and ultimately it was because I was embarrassed of who I was at that time. I don’t see you as any different. And now you’re up against Trixie Mars, and she damn well knows who she is. She also doesn’t need me to speak for her, unlike you and your buddy Idrissa. She’s spoken for herself plenty of times and she’s handled business plenty of times without me, and that’s why I’m letting her go alone, because I know she can. Could you handle things solo, Theo? Would you have come this far? I’m not so sure. And that’s why at Collision Course she will overcome you, her biggest challenge to date, and she will become the Queen of the G1. You know why? Because that’s just what she does.”
He smirks, and exits the ring, we fade to black.
“I remember when I first saw you in action. Mainly because that gym smelt like a weed greenhouse, but also because there you were stealing the show, and yet nobody knew who your name was. They all ignored you, passed you by until you flew off the top rope and won the match. Then suddenly they all wanted to know who you were. I knew who you were though, I had I done my homework and let you know, that’s why you listened to me, and only me. Although even then, you still asked me what was in it for you!” He chuckles. “I told you I’d open the doors for you that nobody else was willing to open, and I did. I brought you into The XHF Network, and I brought you to UPW. And then, UPW closes, and before I could ask you where we should head next you begged me to put you in the G1. True to my word, I opened the door for you. I also told you that even though I’d open the doors, you’d still have to walk through them, and I’ll tell you now, you fucking well have.”
He stops pacing and faces Trixie.
“I knew you had the potential, that was evident withing two minutes of watching you in that gym in Portland. What I didn’t know was how much of my help you’d really need. Turns out, not much at all.”
“Now come on, boss.” Trixie humbly begins but Arnold isn’t willing to let her interject.
“I’m not saying I’ve done nothing. But you have come in every day, you’ve listened, you’ve sharpened your skills, you’ve put all the hard work in and you have earned the right to be apart of The Academy. When it’s come to the G1, I was worried about how you would handle the target on your back, the same target that Riley and Leon both have from being associated with me, because I’m not always seen as a positive influence.”
“That’s an understatement.” She scoffs playfully.
“Steady, Trixie.” He glares, albeit with a coy smile. “The worry I had, it may as well not have existed. You’ve handled every challenge almost as well as I would have.”
“Yes, because even with all that personal growth, nobody can be better than you still, right?” Mars rolls her eyes.
“You are correct.” Arnold misses no beat in his reply. “With that in mind, however, and knowing that I’ve got my own thing upcoming with End of Days, I’m leaving you to fly solo, following the conclusion of Collision Course and the G1.”
“Wait, really?”
“Really. And this doesn’t mean I’m not here for you, or Riley, or Leon. It means the three of you are capable of looking after yourselves and each other. I’ll always be a call away.” He folds his arms. “Don’t think that it will change the perception people have of you though. You’ve proved you’re no underdog but they’ll still treat you like one, they’ll still link you to me, they’ll still say you’ve had it easy.”
“Easy? Easy? These people don’t have any idea! It’s not easy growing up without a father. It’s not easy being bullied and disregarded in school. It’s not easy being told your career choice isn’t going to get you anywhere and having your self-belief pulled apart in the process.” She sighs and shakes her head, frustration growing. “Easy? Like my G1 bracket? Please, I’d have done the same to any of those opponents. The pig, the orc, the mime, hell I’d have done it to MYOJIN or Spike Kane because there is no easy in this business. There is no easy in forcing somebody to tap out, there is no easy in making somebody stay down for the count of three and yet there’s three guys and a bunny rabbit all on the wrong end of that!”
“You don’t have to tell me, hell you don’t have to tell them, you just keep showing them. If you beat The Thespian this Saturday then maybe they’ll believe it a little more, maybe they won’t, but I know either way you’ll keep pushing against the tide they keep sending your way. That’s what you do, and I couldn’t be prouder of you for it.” He pats her on the shoulder. “Now get take a break, no point overdoing it this close to the final.”
Trixie nods and exits the ring, quickly heading out of shot. Arnold watches until she’s out of both camera and earshot, and then turns to face the camera.
“You know Thespian, she’s bringing that fire, and I hope you’re ready for it, because I don’t think you’ve experienced anything like what she’s bringing to the table. Sure, you claim to have once been somebody before a mighty tragedy befallen you, but let me be as plain as the outfits you wear, I once wore a mask to hide my identity, and ultimately it was because I was embarrassed of who I was at that time. I don’t see you as any different. And now you’re up against Trixie Mars, and she damn well knows who she is. She also doesn’t need me to speak for her, unlike you and your buddy Idrissa. She’s spoken for herself plenty of times and she’s handled business plenty of times without me, and that’s why I’m letting her go alone, because I know she can. Could you handle things solo, Theo? Would you have come this far? I’m not so sure. And that’s why at Collision Course she will overcome you, her biggest challenge to date, and she will become the Queen of the G1. You know why? Because that’s just what she does.”
He smirks, and exits the ring, we fade to black.
