Post by Frequent Flyer Miles on Jan 18, 2021 17:22:03 GMT -5
Somewhere Over Irish Airspace
January 18, 2021
Around dinnertime
'Are they freaking for real?!'
'Izzy...'
'What, so you lose one match, and all of a sudden you're---'
'Iz...'
'---way down here...fighting...whoever this dude is...in some random nothing match---'
'Izzy...'
'I mean, who even are these other people? Cartier and whoever?'
'Other fighters who deserve their turn at the top. Izzy...'
'---itwasn'tevenasinglesmatch!!!'
'IZZY! Just chill! Please!'
'Yeah, girlfriend! Mouthing off about dumb decisions at Miles' work is kind'a my job. You're supposed to be the supportive girlfriend slash my personal bitch...'
'Teagan!'
'Aw, c'mon, dude! Seriously? It's not even a swear word swear word! It's what you call a female dog!'
'I don't care. I don't like that kind of language.'
'Idunlikedatkinnuhlanguidge...durr durr durr...'
I'm not going to laugh. I can't laugh.
'A-ny-way, gimmick infringement aside...Izzy's right. What the freak on a stick are they thinking up there at Revo Towers? Have they gone loco, homes? Lost their marbles? Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs?'
'Teagan, it's not---'
'I mean, I hate to sound like my freakin' Mom, but do they know who you are? They can't do this to you!'
'Right. And I bet you want to speak to my manager...'
'Darn straight I do! Just as soon as your Dad lands this plane, me and you and Iz are gonna go find your boss and set her straight!'
'Riiiiight...'
'I mean that, Miles!'
'Sure you do. Except we're not going to do anything like that. All we're going to do is get some sleep, and tomorrow, I'll start getting ready for the match with Jace.'
'...you mean you're gonna take it?!'
'Uh...yeah...? What else am I supposed to do, no-show?'
'Uh...you could fight for your right! You know, as the World freakin' Champion!'
'Fight for my right to what? To paaaaaarrrrrtaaaaayyyy?'
'Very funny, Miles... You know, sometimes, I wish you weren't such a freakin' saint. Sometimes, I wish you'd get offended over something. Just once.'
'I do get offended. I get offended about plenty of stuff. Discrimination, gender inequality, police brutality---'
'---that's not what I meant, Miles.'
'Oh, really? What did you mean, then? You mean throwing a hissy fit about petty stuff? Sweating the small things?'
'They're not small things though---'
'---yes. They. Are. Yes, they freaking are. It's just one match. One week. Why are you guys making such a big deal out of this?'
'Because, you're the World---'
'---so WHAT?! That gives me the right to be a jerk? Seriously, where do people get this idea that being the World Champion gives you the right to just throw a tantrum until you get your way? It's the exact opposite!'
'Oh boy...here we go...'
'Being the World Champion means you've got to be a role model. A leader. Set an example. You can't just whine at your bosses every time they do something you don't like!'
'Uh...yeah you can.'
'Nope. No, you can't.'
'Yes you---'
'---besides, I don't even mind.'
'Yeah, exactly, that's what I---wait, what'chu say?'
'I said, I don't mind.'
'Whatchu talkin' 'bout, Willis?'
'You heard me. I don't mind where they put me this week.'
'But---but it's a nothing match! For nothing! You're the World freaking Champion and you're in the middle of the card, fighting over nothing!'
'Would you stop saying that! Nothing is nothing! Everything is something!'
'Thank you, Captain Obvious...!'
'You know what I mean!'
I'm not going to get mad. I'm not going to get mad.
OK, Miles. Deep breaths.
'Look...guys...I knew how it was going to be when I won that World Title. I knew it wasn't always going to be sunshine and rainbows and Main Events. I knew, at some point or another, I was going to have to let other people have their turn. And I'm fine with it. I really am.'
'But Miles! Them putting you way down there, fighting over nothing, means they lost trust in you! That they don't think you're good enough to bring people in anymore!'
'Izzy...'
'I think what she means, my dude, is that you used to be Metallica...and now you're just the local support act.'
What?!
'You guys can't actually believe that...right?'
'Why? What's wrong with it?'
'It's just one show, guys. It doesn't mean---it doesn't make me---'
'---a scrub? It kind'a does, y'know...'
'Shut up, Teagan.'
---whoa, that was unexpected.
Then again, maybe not.
I love my girlfriend.
'OK, OK...geez, you guys are touchy tonight. I'm just gonna go grab some more noms and see what Cutie Patootie is up to.'
'Yeah. You do that.'
'You guys want anything?'
'Yeah, actually. If Run is awake, could you tell him to get the camera ready?'
'Wait...you're gonna shoot a video? On a plane?!'
'Why not? I know what I want to say now. Why wait until tomorrow?'
'Uh...yeah...I guess...'
'Cool. So go get my brother if you can. Don't wake him up, though, 'K?'
'All right. Back in a sec, people. Don't do anything gross like kiss or whatever.'
'...too late, Teags...'
'EWWWWW!! I did not need that mental image!'
'Yeah, right! You're just jealous!'
Oh, guys...never change.
------------------------------------------------------------
Somewhere Over Irish Airspace
January 18, 2021
Ten Minutes Later
'You rang, kemo sabe?'
'---she didn't wake you up, did she?'
'Nah. I was stuffing my face with Oreos. Seriously, those little minibar packs Dad got for in here are insane!'
'I know. I ate a whole bunch earlier, too. You've got some in your teeth, by the way.'
'Oh crud! Thanks, bro!'
'Anytime. Wouldn't want you looking bad in front of Teagan...'
'Shut up.'
'I will if you shoot this video.'
'I was gonna shoot it anyway. Derp.'
'OK. Just say when.'
'Hold on a minute...I just need to---OK, you ready?'
'Ready.'
'OK...aaaaand...when!'
'Nothing.'
That threw Run off. Good. That's what I was going for.
'That's the one word I've heard the most ever since this latest Revo card came out. Nothing. Everything is nothing. The match is nothing, my opponent is nothing, I'm fighting over nothing...look, guys...you keep using that word. I don't think that word means what you think it means.'
Ha! Run understood that reference.
'See, the way I see it...in this kind of career...there's no nothing. In this kind of career, everything is something. And this match tomorrow night in Dublin? This match is no exception. I don't really know what it is...maybe it's a message from the people in the office, maybe they just wanted to give someone else a shot for a change...maybe it's even just a screw-up from somebody, like it got put in the wrong place or something. You know what it's not, though? It's not nothing.'
I think that put the point across well enough. Moving on.
'Anyway, if it's not nothing for me, it's definitely not nothing for my opponent. For Jace Myers, it's probably the greatest night of his career at Revo. Heck, the dude's facing the World Champion! It's one heck of an opportunity for a guy who wants to prove himself. I should know. That used to be me in his spot.'
And not that long ago, either. Geez. Time flies.
'And because it used to be me, I know just how Jace must be feeling right about now. He's either pumped up and ready to give me the match of my life...or he's having butterflies so bad he can't sleep, or eat, or do much of anything except worry about his match. Either way, I know he's up for this. Either way, I know tomorrow night, he'll be coming at me with everything he's got, trying to score an upset win over the top dog of Revo.
Which means, it's on me to stop that from happening.'
OK. Real talk time.
'See, Jace is twice my size. Twice my weight. It wouldn't be a big deal for a guy like him to run a guy like me over. David and Goliath only happens sometimes – most times, Goliath wins easy, and nobody bats an eye. Except this time, that can't happen. This time, David has to win. You know why?
Because David has this.'
Good thing I keep this belt around at all times...
'That's right. This right here is the main difference between us, Jace. This right here is why you're not going to win tomorrow night. See, I haven't done a fantastic job of proving myself ever since I won this thing back in December...'
Jeepers! Has it really only been a month?
'...but that is about to change. I am about to start proving to everyone that my win wasn't just a fluke. That I deserve to wear this strap around my waist. And now that I am back on my own again...that is exactly what I'm going to do.
Starting tomorrow night.
With you.'
Run liked that. Good. So did I.
'See, Jace...tomorrow night isn't just a test for you. It's one for me, too. You may have the World Champion to beat...but so do I. I can't just be plain old Miles from 2020, the starry-eyed rookie who lived his dreams and then some. I have to be better. Work harder. Last longer. I have to reach my best, and then beat it. That's the only way I can be sure I really am World Champion tier.'
Run is impressed. I don't know why, it's just facts, but OK, I guess...
'So, Jace...tomorrow night, in Dublin, I hope you bring your A-game. Because you're sure going to need it. You may be bigger and stronger than me...but I'm faster. More athletic. Basically, I'm Spider-Man, and you're Rhino. And we know how that fight always ends.'
Oops! I hope Run laughing doesn't come through on the final cut...
Anyway, time to wrap this one up.
'Anyway, what I'm trying to say here, Jace, is...tomorrow night, I hope you're ready for what's coming at you. 'Cause see, I don't know about you, but me?
I'm not going to fail my test.'
Yup. That sounds like a good place to end it. And I think Run agrees, as well.
'You get all that, little bro?'
'Sure did, Champ!'
'Good. Now, c'mon. All this yakking always makes me hungry. Let's go grab some more of those mini packets of Oreos and stuff our faces.'
'Sounds like a plan, big bro. Sounds like a plan.'
FINAL WORD COUNT: 1721
FINAL WORD COUNT: 1721