Post by Dante Q on Dec 1, 2012 6:34:48 GMT -6
Alex Brooks is sitting the steps of the RIMAC Arena, the home of Exodus Pro. His blonde locks are covered by one of the marketing department's genius idea – an Exodus Pro hat, back in colour. He is wearing a plain T-shirt, also black in colour. A pair of jeans, not black in colour, shield his legs from the warm end of autumn sun. The teal awnings of the RIMAC Arena are set off against the off white brick of the building by the Sun's rays.
“If you travel a few thousand miles north of here you'll find the Winter Road.”
Alex Brooks tugs at the brim of his cap.
“But that's not the Winter Road I'm interested in. The Winter Road that I'm interested in starts right inside those doors on December sixteenth.”
Alex Brooks waves his arms to indicate RIMAC Arena.
“In fact it's not just me – its every single Exodus Pro athlete that signed on the dotted line when when Rufus Strong started handing out contracts. And why would we want to win the Winter Road. It's a ticket to stardom, a chance to permanently elevate oneself the bottom of the rise to the top of the mountain. Its a chance to go a from a name in the program to your name on the front page.”
“I could continue, but I think you already get the picture.”
“So, most definitely I want prize at the end of the Winter Road.”
“Just like J-Swag and Silver Squid. My opponents in this qualifier, though when you think it about its more of an eliminator. Meh. Semantics.”
Alex Brooks scraps the toe of his shoe along the greenery on which he is currently sitting. He begins to tap his feet alternatively as he continues to talk.
“J-Swag has called me out, telling me that while I know what I want, he is standing in my way and going to prevent me from getting it. Sort of ironic, really, because the way I see things I am standing in his way and I am the one that prevent him from achieving the things he seeks to achieve. I guess that its all a matter of perspective, really. He sits on one side of the fence, I sit on the other and there is no common ground and neither are willing to compromise our positions. Not that it worries me – its all part of this business. We all seek that common glory and to get that glory you've got to stomp on those that get in you way. Of course, there are right ways and wrong ways of doing things. Me, I like to do things the right way – Use my ability to beat my opponent or opponents fair and square as the rules of the contest allow. If that means I get pinned. Well, so be it. But, what I take away from that loss is a lesson learned.”
“But I'm not going to lose.”
“The way I see things playing out in my mind. Is a victory for myself in the qualifier. An undefeated effort in the round robin and eventually capturing the prize at the end of the Winter Road. But... that's probably what everyone else is thinking to. From Fiona Rourke and Daisuke Iwakuma to Justin Brooks and Omar Wise, and everyone else in between. Every single one of them is probably thinking along the same lines as me. Lucky, I only have to face J-Swag and Silver Squid this time round, then. Isn't it?”
Alex Brooks lets a little smirk rise and fall, before he continues speaking.
“That was probably a bit underhanded. But, if I'm going to be honest – from outward appearances I would much rather be in the ring with someone disguising themselves as a cephlapod than someone like Omar Wise. I could be wrong. Silver Squid could be an excellent athlete and a world class wrestler, but we won't know that until he decides to make an appearance. Of course, if he tries to impress college girls the same way his tag team partner – than I'm sure it will make for an interesting conversation with someone a little more balanced. And well, J-Swag is J-Swag, not an octopus, not a squid, but someone who wants to dismiss me because I gave him a bit of background information about myself. That's a mistake. I learned a valuable lesson very early in my career. Never dismiss your opponent. Because when you do they will come along and kick your butt, when you're not looking. Remember the old Philadelphia lesson – anyone can beat anyone on any given day. Just some outcomes are more likely than others. One of those more likely outcomes is an Alex Brooks victory on December sixteenth.”
That cheeky smirk rises and falls with boyish charm on the face of Alex Brooks.
“But, that doesn't mean that I will dismiss you, right bro? That would be bordering on lunacy to write you off, if I get into that ring thinking I already have the victory in the bag, well that is all but a guaranteed loss. I can't even think I've got Silver Squid beaten, as ludicrous as losing to calamari seems. If he competes well it could happen, especially if I'm certain I won't. Don't get me wrong here, just because either of you might beat me. Don't for a minute think that I'm going to let you. When you step into the ring with me, whether it's over, under or between those ropes. The fight is on. I'm a wrestler, it's my career and victory is the reward for all my hard work neither of you will be taking it from me. Especially you, vital idol.”
Brooks smiles and wiggles his finger side to side as if to say no.
“I thought that was pretty clever trick you pulled off there, Jay. Creating your nickname. I don't know if vital idol will catch on with the masses but I have to tell I was impressed with the effort you put into getting it out there. That, in itself, deserves a round of applause.”
Alex Brooks claps his hands together a few times, possibly sarcastically.
“You're doing better than our mutual opponent, Silver Squid. Who has yet to step foot in the public domain, possibly because of the ridicule his tag team partner received when he made a visit to the bar. Maybe he's afraid we'll do to him what they did to Paulie? I don't know, what I do know is that he hasn't shown up yet. But we have. And if he doesn't come to the ring with his best performance, than I know that one of you or me will be eliminating him from the Winter Road tournament, not that I am really bothered by that. Because if the Silver Squid is pinned, it's mean I'm not. I'm still walking the path to success in Exodus Pro. I'm pretty sure, you feel the same way, Jay.”
“But you know what, Jay. Before I leave today I need to keep it real. I need to know that I'm not the type sling insults to keep my psyche in the positive. I could but I won't.”
“Just like I could spend an eternity comparing you to a simplistic impersonation of The Offspring's Pretty Fly guy, but I won't.”
“Or I could tell you ridiculous Markus' nickname sounds, but I won't. Em-Pee-Three, right bro?”
“Or I could sit here, forever and a day putting Silver Squid with a whole range of mocking insults, but I won't.”
“Why?”
Alex Brooks stands up and starts walking down the stairs.
“Because my mother taught me to respect everyone, and they will respect you back. While it's not entirely true in this wrestling business. It's a rule of life that I like to apply to my daily comings and goings. That's why.”
Alex Brooks reaches the bottom of the stairs and turns to looks at RIMAC Arena, exposing the Exodus Pro logo on the back of his logo.
“Jay, Double Ess, when show time rolls around on December sixteenth. When the crowd is screaming for the contest When the music has finished and the ring introductions are done. And the three of us are standing there with adrenaline oozing from out pores just waiting for the bell to ring. Remember this...”
Alex Brooks turns around exposing a truly serious look on his boyish face, it would be comical if it wasn't so honest.
“It's my time. And it starts the moment the bell rings.”
Everything tense muscle in Alex Brooks relaxes as he waves his hand over the RIMAC Arena.
“And it starts here for all of us.”
“Good luck.”
Black.
“DAMN SON, YOU KILLED IT!”
“If you travel a few thousand miles north of here you'll find the Winter Road.”
Alex Brooks tugs at the brim of his cap.
“But that's not the Winter Road I'm interested in. The Winter Road that I'm interested in starts right inside those doors on December sixteenth.”
Alex Brooks waves his arms to indicate RIMAC Arena.
“In fact it's not just me – its every single Exodus Pro athlete that signed on the dotted line when when Rufus Strong started handing out contracts. And why would we want to win the Winter Road. It's a ticket to stardom, a chance to permanently elevate oneself the bottom of the rise to the top of the mountain. Its a chance to go a from a name in the program to your name on the front page.”
“I could continue, but I think you already get the picture.”
“So, most definitely I want prize at the end of the Winter Road.”
“Just like J-Swag and Silver Squid. My opponents in this qualifier, though when you think it about its more of an eliminator. Meh. Semantics.”
Alex Brooks scraps the toe of his shoe along the greenery on which he is currently sitting. He begins to tap his feet alternatively as he continues to talk.
“J-Swag has called me out, telling me that while I know what I want, he is standing in my way and going to prevent me from getting it. Sort of ironic, really, because the way I see things I am standing in his way and I am the one that prevent him from achieving the things he seeks to achieve. I guess that its all a matter of perspective, really. He sits on one side of the fence, I sit on the other and there is no common ground and neither are willing to compromise our positions. Not that it worries me – its all part of this business. We all seek that common glory and to get that glory you've got to stomp on those that get in you way. Of course, there are right ways and wrong ways of doing things. Me, I like to do things the right way – Use my ability to beat my opponent or opponents fair and square as the rules of the contest allow. If that means I get pinned. Well, so be it. But, what I take away from that loss is a lesson learned.”
“But I'm not going to lose.”
“The way I see things playing out in my mind. Is a victory for myself in the qualifier. An undefeated effort in the round robin and eventually capturing the prize at the end of the Winter Road. But... that's probably what everyone else is thinking to. From Fiona Rourke and Daisuke Iwakuma to Justin Brooks and Omar Wise, and everyone else in between. Every single one of them is probably thinking along the same lines as me. Lucky, I only have to face J-Swag and Silver Squid this time round, then. Isn't it?”
Alex Brooks lets a little smirk rise and fall, before he continues speaking.
“That was probably a bit underhanded. But, if I'm going to be honest – from outward appearances I would much rather be in the ring with someone disguising themselves as a cephlapod than someone like Omar Wise. I could be wrong. Silver Squid could be an excellent athlete and a world class wrestler, but we won't know that until he decides to make an appearance. Of course, if he tries to impress college girls the same way his tag team partner – than I'm sure it will make for an interesting conversation with someone a little more balanced. And well, J-Swag is J-Swag, not an octopus, not a squid, but someone who wants to dismiss me because I gave him a bit of background information about myself. That's a mistake. I learned a valuable lesson very early in my career. Never dismiss your opponent. Because when you do they will come along and kick your butt, when you're not looking. Remember the old Philadelphia lesson – anyone can beat anyone on any given day. Just some outcomes are more likely than others. One of those more likely outcomes is an Alex Brooks victory on December sixteenth.”
That cheeky smirk rises and falls with boyish charm on the face of Alex Brooks.
“But, that doesn't mean that I will dismiss you, right bro? That would be bordering on lunacy to write you off, if I get into that ring thinking I already have the victory in the bag, well that is all but a guaranteed loss. I can't even think I've got Silver Squid beaten, as ludicrous as losing to calamari seems. If he competes well it could happen, especially if I'm certain I won't. Don't get me wrong here, just because either of you might beat me. Don't for a minute think that I'm going to let you. When you step into the ring with me, whether it's over, under or between those ropes. The fight is on. I'm a wrestler, it's my career and victory is the reward for all my hard work neither of you will be taking it from me. Especially you, vital idol.”
Brooks smiles and wiggles his finger side to side as if to say no.
“I thought that was pretty clever trick you pulled off there, Jay. Creating your nickname. I don't know if vital idol will catch on with the masses but I have to tell I was impressed with the effort you put into getting it out there. That, in itself, deserves a round of applause.”
Alex Brooks claps his hands together a few times, possibly sarcastically.
“You're doing better than our mutual opponent, Silver Squid. Who has yet to step foot in the public domain, possibly because of the ridicule his tag team partner received when he made a visit to the bar. Maybe he's afraid we'll do to him what they did to Paulie? I don't know, what I do know is that he hasn't shown up yet. But we have. And if he doesn't come to the ring with his best performance, than I know that one of you or me will be eliminating him from the Winter Road tournament, not that I am really bothered by that. Because if the Silver Squid is pinned, it's mean I'm not. I'm still walking the path to success in Exodus Pro. I'm pretty sure, you feel the same way, Jay.”
“But you know what, Jay. Before I leave today I need to keep it real. I need to know that I'm not the type sling insults to keep my psyche in the positive. I could but I won't.”
“Just like I could spend an eternity comparing you to a simplistic impersonation of The Offspring's Pretty Fly guy, but I won't.”
“Or I could tell you ridiculous Markus' nickname sounds, but I won't. Em-Pee-Three, right bro?”
“Or I could sit here, forever and a day putting Silver Squid with a whole range of mocking insults, but I won't.”
“Why?”
Alex Brooks stands up and starts walking down the stairs.
“Because my mother taught me to respect everyone, and they will respect you back. While it's not entirely true in this wrestling business. It's a rule of life that I like to apply to my daily comings and goings. That's why.”
Alex Brooks reaches the bottom of the stairs and turns to looks at RIMAC Arena, exposing the Exodus Pro logo on the back of his logo.
“Jay, Double Ess, when show time rolls around on December sixteenth. When the crowd is screaming for the contest When the music has finished and the ring introductions are done. And the three of us are standing there with adrenaline oozing from out pores just waiting for the bell to ring. Remember this...”
Alex Brooks turns around exposing a truly serious look on his boyish face, it would be comical if it wasn't so honest.
“It's my time. And it starts the moment the bell rings.”
Everything tense muscle in Alex Brooks relaxes as he waves his hand over the RIMAC Arena.
“And it starts here for all of us.”
“Good luck.”
Black.
“DAMN SON, YOU KILLED IT!”