Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2015 22:59:43 GMT -6
The respect that you offer to others is a direct reflection of the respect you give yourself. While it is indeed earned rather than automatic based on age, race, gender or class, respect happens to have many forms. You can respect someone for who they are; their personality, charisma, or ethics. You can also respect someone's talent and abilities.
However there are definitely instances in which respect should never occur: it is most dangerous, for example, when given haphazardly to someone with overwhelming power, especially through fear.
You cannot threaten someone to garner respect for yourself. Irrational violence will never secure real reverence. It is fear, it is hatred; it is not respect. Those who force restrictions or raise their fists to others simply because things either didn't go their way or happened to go someone else's.... those people are not honorable. They are childish. They are ignorant. And most of all.... they are cowards.
But that is how some men think. Breaking bones and bloodying names seems to be rather popular nowadays. They claim that they don't care to be respected; that they don't care to be put on a pedestal. And yet they attack people, go after them. And for what logical reason? If it's to simply harm others, perhaps they should be placed in special "care" rather than in a ring where a potential injury or death could occur.
Now if it's to get revenge or to protect their bruised ego, or to "teach someone a lesson".... does that not fall in line with wanting to be held in high regard? To be seen as a higher power or stronger being?
Stu Fish falls in line with that idea, as do the others in his almighty group. The Orphanage is full of men who attempt to use panic and brute force to gain respect from those outside. Fish blatantly attacked a man who has proven to be worthy of my admiration. Ethan Sinn was victorious in that match. And his opponent's fragile pride was threatened.
I am not one to judge solely on one night's actions, nor attempt any kind of retribution. However, I will be sure to teach Mister Fish... that one must learn to walk before they run.
'Why am I so angry?'
Alec thinks to himself, knuckles white as his fists clench on the edge of the sink in his hotel room bathroom. He shakes his head in frustration and slowly lifts his eyes to the mirror. Staring back at him is the reflection of a man with many burdens, many past hardships and many.... secrets.
He breaks his own reflection's gaze quickly and straightens. He has just gotten dressed, wearing nice jeans and a gray t-shirt reading: A Storm is Coming, along with a black and white picture of VoW's own Tyler Storm. Alec is a fan of the Hybrid not because he's simply a good man, but because he is also a very flawed man. The fact that he accepts this and pushes through it, succeeding in some areas many men cannot even through his vices, is what makes Alec respect him.
'He gets angry with similar things as well.' Alec's thought is followed by a small frown as he turns on the water in the sink. Splashing his face to try to wash away the feeling, Rose pauses, the cool liquid resting in his hands, when he hears a shriek!
Immediately yanking himself upward, Alec swiftly turns off the water and whips open the bathroom door, a concerned look crossing his features. On one of the two beds in the room lays his friend and "manager" Lizzy Bowman. She is squirming wildly, her hands clutching at her arms as she seems to be having some sort of nightmare. He worriedly heads over and stops in his tracks when he notices that her nails.... are dragging violently down her forearms, leaving reddened and in some cases bleeding marks.
Feeling a sense of urgency, Alec grabs Lizzy by the wrists and stares down at her with an alarmed gaze. Suddenly.... he feels so weak. He can't yell for her to awaken. He can't tell her everything will be okay. He just stands there, hovering over her, hands trembling slightly while gently clutching her wrists.
'Damn it. Damn. It.'
He leans down, resting his forehead on her's, and begins delicately rubbing circles with his thumbs into her much smaller wrists. Still wriggling slightly, Lizzy's body soon calms down and her eyes snap open. The dark chestnut orbs notice Alec right atop her and she confusedly sits bolt-right up... smacking her head right into the her friend's!
"Ow! What the heck Alec?!" Lizzy cries as she places a hand to her bruised forehead, staring at the now standing man. Rose does not answer at first and instead calmly, reluctantly points toward her arms. Bowman blinks in confusion before looking down, and the color drains from her mocha-colored skin.
"What...."
Alec heads to the other bed's side, grabbing his smartphone off of the table and turning it on. He then returns to his startled and hurt friend's side. He tapped away at the screen and soon holds it out to her.
-Are you alright?-
"Do-Do I look alright, Alec?" She responds shakily and Alec clenches his jaw, his fist tightening on his phone as he types some more.
-Im sorry.-
"For what?", comes her quiet reply as she slowly swings her legs over the side of the bed. Her pastel pink pajamas and bare feet only makes her look even more innocent. Alec quietly sits beside her, resting his broad shoulder against the smaller woman's as he types out his response.
-I wish I could comfort you. Or say something to you. This is the second time youve freaked out like this in the last 3 weeks. And I cant do anything to help-
Lizzy reads the screen as he types this, and her shaking fingers gingerly touch the fresh wounds now visible on her arms. With a deep breath, Bowman wags her head back and forth and smiles slightly. "No. It's alright. Your presence is comforting. I'm-I'm gonna go get cleaned up, okay? A-and don't worry. You always make me feel better. Thank you for being such a wonderful.... friend."
She nudges him gently with her shoulder, barely making him move with the size difference. Lizzy then pushes herself to stand, feeling dizzy on her feet. But she brushes it off and heads toward the bathroom now, as Alec watches after her.... as he always has.
'I love you.' He sardonically laughs at himself, scoffing at the very thought he just had. It wasn't as if he could say this to her. Literally. There is no point. It wouldn't be worth the drama. He forces the idea out of his mind and rests his elbows on his knees, folding his hands in front of him and pressing them to his mouth in thought.
'....I'm pathetic.' He moved his hands up to cover his face, and he sighs aloud. It seems as though hours pass until finally he feels a light touch on his arm.
Dropping his arms, Rose looks up to see Lizzy standing there in white pants and a dark brown v-neck. He rarely sees her in something other than a dress and smiles a bit before typing on his phone.
-What's the occasion?-
"Oh you'll see."
As she says this, Lizzy grabs her things and starts out of the hotel room, apparently all ready to go out. Alec scurries to follow, grabbing his shoes and hopping on one foot as he walks to get them on. They head out of the building and into the nice weather. To be honest, Rose had expected it to be rather cold in Ontario. But it seemed to be relatively warm out.
Running a hand through his short hair, Alec follows Lizzy to the car and soon enough they are on the road. After around twenty minutes or so, the two end up at an outdoor center. A sign reading: "Nor'West" is the only clue Rose gets as they enter the area. They end up at an area with many pullies and wires, people being strapped in and climbing up.... a colorful rock wall.
Now Alec is not afraid of heights. His fears are limited to a mere handful of things. That said, the incredibly high wall is rather intimidating. Clearing his throat, he slowly types away at his phone and holds it toward Lizzy.
-Why are we rock climbing today??-
"Training!" Lizzy cries, throwing her arms out. A few people, parents and employees, glance over. They notice the now cleaned marks on the mixed girl's arms and she lowers them quickly and stares away. The pained expression makes Alec feel a bit protective as he glares over at the people, before gesturing toward the wall.
-It is definitely a physical activity. Going against a man not much different in build than me, I should be doing this type of training. Good idea.-
Lizzy beams, making Alec's day, as the two head over and all questions about the activity are answered. As Lizzy is getting a few more details, Alec can't help but ponder his match. He requested this bout because of the actions of Stu. Unforgivable, juvenile actions that proved that Fish has much to learn. Even as someone so heinous, he is rather amateur in what he does. He can, in Alec's eyes, learn much from his allies. As someone who believes any one person can be his teacher, Rose truly believes that perhaps he can teach his opponent of the week about respect. He could teach him to walk first before attempting a run that he simply cannot do.
'I should be alright. I'm different in the ring. I hope.'
He thinks this, with another exhale. Stu is in for a surprise. As much as Alec knows not to underestimate anyone, he also knows that he has proven his abilities himself. He will respect the talents that Fish has. He will match him man-for-man in the ring and if he happens to lose, he will respond maturely and offer a hand. However, if Alec happens to defeat his fellow hacker and Stu attempts anything.... he will defend himself and Lizzy, who will most likely attempt to get involved. He can't let that happen. He'd never let anything happen to her...
"Promise you'll catch me if I fall?" Breaking Alec from his daze, Lizzy suddenly laughs nervously, gazing up at the large rock wall before turning her eyes toward Alec. He stares at her with gentle eyes and shakes away his previous thoughts to respond on his phone. He holds it up and smiles.
-Of course. I promise.-
