Post by Katie Moicelle on Sept 7, 2016 0:27:04 GMT -6
That’s all I keep hearing. You aren’t good enough. You will never be good enough to sneak looks at the World Visionary Championship, let alone win it. And how many people actually believe I can do it? No one. And this time, I don’t just mean “oh, all the assholes are putting me down and I’m choosing to focus on them.” No, I mean legitimately no one believes I can do it. Not even my friends. They’re all busy screaming their lungs out of their chest for Stacy Jones beating Casanova English. Ace Watson has made for a Katie who will likely never be satisfied again until everyone shuts up and actually takes her seriously. Though… that does bring up an interesting counterpoint. Am I really good enough to challenge anyone for anything, or should I just give up my pursuit of championship gold? If I lose to Patrick Jones, which is a very real possibility seeing as he’s done it before, what do I do in that case? Should I just up and leave? Would that make everyone happy? Because English left and it made everyone happy, so maybe I should leave too and make everyone happier. It’d make everyone’s lives easier, that’s for sure. Ace Watson wouldn’t have to worry about losing his Zero Gravity Championship anymore, that Ruby girl at the announce table would be happy.
And I guess that’s the only reason I’m here: to make people happy. Even at my own expense.
Act I – Fire
Date: September 10th, 2016 (My Birthday!)
Location: Claire’s Underground Residence
Speaking of making people happy, today’s my 20th birthday, and you would think I’d be in a better mood about achieving to live 2 decades on this planet. A lot of my old graduating class couldn’t really say that, as they merely exist. But, I’d imagine they’re already mothers and fathers with happy lives, not having to worry about what people think of them, not having to worry whether or not they’ll be kicked out of their 9 to 5 job the next day. Provided they’re breathing the next day, that is. I, as a wrestler, don’t get that luxury. I, as a former champion before 20, don’t know when my last day as a Visionary of Wrestling will be. Nonetheless, today IS my birthday, and before she had to run the shop, Claire and I organized a little party for the occasion. We never got around to writing invitations given the circumstances of Heatstroke, but I textually invited Jami and Tyler to show up, since they would be in the area day of. Dressed in a dark blue t-shirt, which match the pair of blue jeans I have, I sit on the long edge of the bed before I hear the door knock.
“It’s open.”
The door opens, and… Oh, my. Jami and Tyler walk in. It takes me a minute to focus on Tyler, though, because of how Jami is dressed. She's wearing a very flattering one-shoulder mini-dress that's got all sorts of floral designs in magenta, marigold, and sky blue, with matching heels. Her hair looks like she just got out of the shower, and her makeup draws so much attention to her impish features that I can't help but stare. She comes up to me, hugs me tight, and, in front of her boyfriend, kisses my lips for a few seconds.
"Happy birthday, my sweet Litten!"
I smile and look over to Tyler, finally focusing to see he went a bit more casual with his outfit, wearing blue jeans, a white hat with a script A, and an Alabama jersey. Oh, the fun of having a birthday on a Saturday during football season. Tyler leans down and gives me a tight hug, scratching my head and smiling.
"Happy birthday Katie, glad we could make it."
“Thank you, guys… sorry if I haven’t… or don’t… seem so uppity today, of all the days to be like this.”
I motion over towards the cake and other party goodies on the makeshift counter. It’s really just a small tray that’s really hard to set up.
“Food and drinks over there, make yourselves comfortable.”
"I'll go grab you and me something to drink baby..."
Tyler leans down again, this time kissing Jami, then making his way over to the tray to get something prepared for Jami and himself while I'm left with my beautiful friend. Jami smiles to Tyler, but then focuses her attention to me. Those golden eyes... I swear, I could stare into them all day.
"Baby, you've been worrying me a lot lately. You've been pushing everyone away but Claire, and you've been letting people who have no bearing on your life control what you're thinking about yourself. I don't like seeing one of my closest friends...hell, my BEST friend like this."
“I know, and I’m so very sorry… I’ve just not been… not been myself since Heatstroke… at all. But you knew that already… I know what went wrong, and I wish I could go back in time to change that… there was no reason I should have let that match continue…”
"Kathryne, stop right there."
Jesus, the way she uses my name... She takes her hands and rests them on my cheeks, drawing her forehead to mine.
"If you'd went down that path, you'd have turned out like my dad. And you saw the way he's been lately...I never wish that upon you. You did the right thing by holding back when you could have very easily broken Ace in half and made him lose his career and possibly more. I'm proud of you for what you've done so far, and I only wish my career wasn't over so I could do half of what you've done."
She gives me another kiss, as if to drive home the point.
"You are loved and admired by so many people, myself included. Don't let your inner sorrow take over...because you've seen through my dad what happens when that occurs. Keep the people who love you and support you in mind...not just Claire. And don't let anyone try to tell you how to be."
Just then, from behind me I feel a hand rest of my back and rub against me gently. I glance back to see Tyler, who has sat two drinks down on the floor beside him to comfort me further.
"It's hard to notice sometimes you have all the support in the world...I get that. I was sitting in that position during the situation with Scarlet this time last year...and I remember a sweet girl who eventually became the main namesake of my baby girl coming to me in the night and telling me she believed in me, telling me they all did. She said it was scary, feeling like you could fail everyone, but no matter what you are a success in the eyes of the ones who love you the most. That can always keep you fighting. I took those words and went on, despite the adversity, my body giving up on me, everything...and now it's time I return that sweet girl's plea for me to not give up when I see her so close to ground zero."
"And let's not forget what you've done for him since...me. If it weren't for you kissing me the way you did when we first met, my heart would have remained closed and Tyler and I wouldn't be together right now. You lit the fires of passion in me that made the last few months possible."
And then that smile she has...
"You are a greater inspiration than you think, Kathryne. So when we see you pushing away from us, it scares us. Me in particular. Because I know what you can do when you're firing on all cylinders..."
And now a sandwich hug...
"I love you, Kathryne...and I know what you're capable of. Don't let the people who want to break you down win...because if you do, then they influence what you create. And I know you're not even close to done yet...future Visionary World Champion."
Why? Why does everyone have to be right about these situations?
“A… are you sure I gave you all that to work with?”
"You gave us all that and more Katie...and if sweet little Elena was here, if she could speak, she would speak so much about how proud she is to be named after someone who inspires the lives of so many. She doesn't even have to be a legend to the word...she's a legend in her eyes and in the eyes of the ones who love her. We just want you to see...we will always see you as great...you don't have to ever fight alone, no matter if maybe things aren't going as great as they were a few months ago."
And waterworks. Like usual.
“I… wish I had… had the words again…”
"You do, babygirl. Use them."
"Just let it all out...you are in understanding company here..."
“I…”
Choke up, that’s what I do. As much as I want to, I can’t find the words. I bury my face in my hands, and bury those in Jami’s legs. And comes the weeping.
"Sweetie..."
Jami strokes my hair as she begins to sing the song that calms me down as usual. Tyler rubs my back and looks at Jami adoringly, as if this is the first time he's ever heard her sing before.
"When daytime turns to night, when the moon shines bright,
When you're tucked in tight, when everything's alright.
Slip softly to that place, where secret thoughts run free,
There come face to face with who you want to be..."
I swear, the girl could sing the pages of the dictionary and she could still soothe me...
"Let it all out hun...it's okay. It's okay to cry."
My hands move away from my face as I pivot my head to my left. My tears stream down across my nose now, and fall to the floor. Good thing saline doesn’t ruin carpet.
“I still don’t know what to say… other than I l… lo… love you… two.”
"And we love you...that's why we are here. We want love to be your fire...success can and will come again, but fight for who believes in you. Win or lose...we are behind you..."
"And it's not just us that love you, Kathryne. So does Zoey, and Stacy, and Jenna....you have a lot more support than you realize. The spirit you have, the honor you display...you're the one bright light in VoW right now. All of us need you."
Just my purpose in VoW. Being the light in a company of darkness… that is my purpose. I need to stop being weak as Katie Moicelle… that’s what I need.
That’s the Cure.
Act II – Desire
Date: September 13th, 2016
“Patrick Jones, don’t take this the wrong way, but I’m hardly focused. I’ve been in a horrible mood since Heatstroke. I’m 2 decades old, and you would think that would make me the happiest little puppy on the planet, right? But, no… I’m more of a grouch than I think I’ve ever been since getting here. I wish I could muster up more emotion than just “Oh, I’m in such a bad mood.” Because this is supposed to be a larger moment than either of us are going to hype it up as.”
“I remember full well the first time we met each other. March 25th, 2015, at Nothing Else Matters. Pre-show match, you and I were in it. You looked a lot older than you are, and I had nothing to do with anyone in that match. I tapped out. You won. Congratulations. The first half of 2015 was your time: you beat then-future World Visionary Champion Ziu Zhong in the main event of Fate of the Gods. We both won that night. However, that’s where the comparisons between you and I should start and end. But they don’t, really… the first half of this year was my time… even if no one wanted it to be. Zero Gravity Champion for 164 days, as if that mattered… Only two defenses, because apparently, I wasn’t good enough to defend on Breakthrough like Ziu Zhong did… According to the record books, I’ll forever be known as the SECOND… best Zero Gravity Champion. Third if Ace Watson has his way, and then he can call me a bronze medal all he wants.”
“On the other hand, in the time after you lost the Zero Gravity Championship, from recollection… you’ve amassed two wins. Out of several times more matches, you surpassed both Reya and Stacy as the Visionary who’s lost the most matches. Now, don’t get me wrong, I don’t take that into account for anyone other than myself, but man… doesn’t that bother you? Because it’d bother me…”
“Honestly, I don’t want to go too in depth on you, PJ, really. I have no real qualms with you other than you happen to be my opponent for this show, and I need a great comeback after disappointing time and time again. We both do, truly. The difference here is that I give enough of a shit to do something about lacking results in the ring. Can you just this once? Please? I beg of you, Patrick Jones. Give me a challenge if you can’t give anyone else one.”