Post by Blyss on Feb 24, 2016 23:39:53 GMT -6
[align=center] “Only the Strong Wears the Crown” [/align]
Thursday, 11 Feb 2016
Location:
Blyss Lockhart had always been the stubborn type, but confident? No, she had her moments of self-doubt. Plenty, even. Before Portland Pro, there was Insurgency Wrestling where she had tried her damnedest to claw her way up to the top. Opportunities were there, but she always failed at every turn. Over time, success for gold became an unhealthy obsession that changed her. Since then, she was never quite the same -- constantly anxious, paranoid and aggressive. Her fears consumed her, then drowned her. For a long time, she went into isolation.
But here she was now a year later, just a few days before she would defend her Portland Pro Openweight championship for the second time against Grayson Street -- all because she had cheated to retain it which clearly infuriated PPW original. The bad blood between the two had begun since her debut when she beat him with a brutal submission finisher that injured him for a while. It was during this time that she went on a tear through the competition and won the title from another PPW original. From there, she continued to disrespect the other members of the roster, particularly the PPW originals. Though her record wasn’t perfect, she was definitely one of the most dominant wrestlers in Portland Pro. And she relished that fact, so much so that she fed on this fear her name supposedly brought. That was the rumor she kept hearing everywhere she went. She truly believed that being the top champion gave her power over everyone else. It was her way or nothing.
With the title match looming closer to date, this was all that occupied her thoughts even when she’s not training. And right now, she was actually at a cafe having lunch with her best friend Gordon Fury. Yet her mind kept drifting to the upcoming match. Could anyone blame her? At first she was annoyed but then she realized that she could get rid of him once and for all. Not only was her title going to be on the line again, but also Grayson’s very career. The guy had been so livid that he announced he’d leave if he were to lose. And people said she was the crazy one.
Giggling at the thought, she doesn’t realize that she has done so out loud and interrupted Gordon who’s in the midst of his story which had not reached the punchline yet. Gordon stops talking, raising an eyebrow at Blyss’ vacant giggle.
“Look, I know I’m hilarious, but at least wait until the punchline to express it.”
Gordon lets out a chuckle, before his expression becomes that of mild concern.
“You alright?”
Blyss casually turns her attention back to him, as if she has been listening all along.
“Hmm? Yeah. Why, what’s wrong?”
She sits up straight and looks back at him with a similar concerned expression on her face. She frowns, trying to remember what he was talking about. But of course she can't because she doesn't quite know. Yet she keeps up the pretense and says nothing. A smirk touches Gordon’s face. As the old saying goes, you can’t bullshit a bullshitter.
“Nothing at all, Mel. What were you thinking about?”
Narrowing her eyes a little like she's deciding whether to say it, but because she's so excited about the upcoming match, she spills it.
“You know, I've never realized how much fun being the top champion can be. You know Grayson? The guy that's been dying to drive me out of Portland? He thought getting the title shot would make that a guarantee. But I played him. Snatched up that chance with a low blow. It's so… So…”
She averts her gaze, snapping her fingers as she tries to find the word.
“Easy! Yes! It was so easy. Like, I remember how much I struggled the last time. But after returning to the ring, it's been such a breeze! And the mind games. Oh my god… It's so fun! You know? Amazing… I can hardly describe it. And the best part is, no guilt whatsoever.”
There's a look of wonder on her face now as she leans back in her seat. The truth is, she's never actually said all this out loud or tell anyone about it. Sure she's expressed joy in all her achievements but not this honestly. A look crosses Gordon’s face, one that rarely appears, one he only reserves for those he has faith in: Disappointment.
“You think that losing a match on purpose is something to be proud of? Really? I taught you better than that, Mel. The ends justify the means, sure, but your end was losing. You had a chance to fight and you took the easy way out. That is nothing to be proud of.”
He would expect to see her looking crushed by the harsh truth but there she is, sitting there all smiles as if what he has just said is music to her ears.
“But I didn't even hesitate. I knew I could do it,” she says with full conviction, “Yeah last time I prooooobably wouldn't have the guts to pull that off. But the plan has to go on. And keeping my title is part of it. So I think that's a major personal improvement. Yay me!”
She laughs. Though meant as a joke, she feels like it may as well be true. She holds up her right hand, expecting a high-five from him. There’s not a lot of subtle context in the way that Gordon speaks, his disappointment was obvious, and yet Blyss’s reaction is as if she doesn’t realize. Gordon looks at her hand before back at her face.
“Your brain did register what I said like, thirty seconds ago, right? What’s the point of being a champion if you refuse to act like one?”
Tilting her head slightly, she gives him a look like she doesn’t understand. “Whatcha mean, Gordo? I've still got my title, don't I? That's the whole point!”
“Yeh, sure…”
She gestures to her still raised hand, smiling gleefully. Gordon lets out a deep, frustrated sigh, before looking up into her eyes. Chastising her isn’t working, and if he continues, getting shut out is the only real ending. Gordon reluctantly raises his hand, and gives Blyss a high-five, but his fingers curl between hers as if to hold her hand, his gaze still on hers.
“Just be careful, alright?”
If there’s anyone who could pull her back to reality, from whatever frame of mind she’s done to herself, it’s him. From friends to lovers to friends again, they have been through a lot together for the past three years. Except the time she isolated herself of course, which seems to have truly changed a major part of her that even he cannot possibly reach anymore.
“Careful?”
She gives him a look like he’s overreacting and chuckles, brushing off the concern. She lets go of his hand.
“Of course. I mean, that’s why there’s the plan, right? I’ve put a lot of thought into it. It’s led me here. It hasn’t failed, and I don’t think it will. Cheating was part of the game, Gordon. See, it’s fucked up Grayson’s mind now. He wants to put his career on the line next week. His career! He’s so desperate. And all I did was ruin his dream match. See how fast I could do that? But he's the one who took it one step further… Right over the edge.”
She giggles, feeling so pleased with herself. How can she not? Everything is falling right into place for her. It’s beautiful. And at this point, nothing else matters. Even right now when she’s talking, Gordon and the rest of the world around her are just a blur in her vision. All she sees is her one hand being raised in victory with the other holding the title up high and her enemy retreating in shame.
“I’ve got him. He doesn’t know it yet, but I do. And that feeling, is just awesome. Have I ever been THIS confident before a huge match like this, huh? Come on. You know full well I usually don’t. But I am now. That’s great, right?”
She nods, as if in response to herself. A rhetorical question in her mind of course. But Gordon replies anyways, and bluntly.
“I’ve put my career on the line before as well, Mel. There are a lot of similarities with Grayson and myself.”
She scoffs. “No... You’re you and Grayson’s an idiot.”
There’s a sort of finality in her tone, one that reeks of pure stubbornness. He knows this all too well.
“Right. Anyway, enough about business. There is food to be had and I’m hungry as fuuuuuck.”
Gordon gives her a smile. She shrugs, before shooting back a teasing grin.
“Fine. I know better than to come between you and food.”
They tuck into their food, quietly at first. But Blyss isn’t all content with dropping the topic just yet. There’s just one more thing she wants to say. A serious look crosses her face as she bites her lower lip before breaking the silence.
“I know what I’m doing, you know. I can tell you’re holding back, whatever it is. But really, I’m okay here. There’s no need to worry.”
Even when she tries not to think of her match, those thoughts will always come back. Business is business, but it’s her life. And it’s everything. Telling her to stop thinking or talking about it is like telling her to quit breathing.
“I’ve got it all figured out now,” she says.
But all she gets is, “Uh huh.”
With that Gordon goes fully back to his eating, keen to leave this topic behind. Usually, she would argue, hating to be left unheard. She could sulk right now and go on and on trying to prove he’s wrong and that she’s right till she runs out of breath. But she’s already said her piece.
If he or anyone else who’s doubting her needs more convincing, she just needs to keep racking up wins and that means no losing the title ever. Maybe then, they will all finally understand.
Wednesday, 24 Feb 2016
Location: Undisclosed
The following is a video clip of Blyss addressing the upcoming PWP match with nothing but a simple backdrop of a plain wall. No hint of where it takes place. She herself is dressed in casual t-shirt and jeans, smiling up at the camera.
With that, the video ends.
Thursday, 11 Feb 2016
Location:
Blyss Lockhart had always been the stubborn type, but confident? No, she had her moments of self-doubt. Plenty, even. Before Portland Pro, there was Insurgency Wrestling where she had tried her damnedest to claw her way up to the top. Opportunities were there, but she always failed at every turn. Over time, success for gold became an unhealthy obsession that changed her. Since then, she was never quite the same -- constantly anxious, paranoid and aggressive. Her fears consumed her, then drowned her. For a long time, she went into isolation.
But here she was now a year later, just a few days before she would defend her Portland Pro Openweight championship for the second time against Grayson Street -- all because she had cheated to retain it which clearly infuriated PPW original. The bad blood between the two had begun since her debut when she beat him with a brutal submission finisher that injured him for a while. It was during this time that she went on a tear through the competition and won the title from another PPW original. From there, she continued to disrespect the other members of the roster, particularly the PPW originals. Though her record wasn’t perfect, she was definitely one of the most dominant wrestlers in Portland Pro. And she relished that fact, so much so that she fed on this fear her name supposedly brought. That was the rumor she kept hearing everywhere she went. She truly believed that being the top champion gave her power over everyone else. It was her way or nothing.
With the title match looming closer to date, this was all that occupied her thoughts even when she’s not training. And right now, she was actually at a cafe having lunch with her best friend Gordon Fury. Yet her mind kept drifting to the upcoming match. Could anyone blame her? At first she was annoyed but then she realized that she could get rid of him once and for all. Not only was her title going to be on the line again, but also Grayson’s very career. The guy had been so livid that he announced he’d leave if he were to lose. And people said she was the crazy one.
Giggling at the thought, she doesn’t realize that she has done so out loud and interrupted Gordon who’s in the midst of his story which had not reached the punchline yet. Gordon stops talking, raising an eyebrow at Blyss’ vacant giggle.
“Look, I know I’m hilarious, but at least wait until the punchline to express it.”
Gordon lets out a chuckle, before his expression becomes that of mild concern.
“You alright?”
Blyss casually turns her attention back to him, as if she has been listening all along.
“Hmm? Yeah. Why, what’s wrong?”
She sits up straight and looks back at him with a similar concerned expression on her face. She frowns, trying to remember what he was talking about. But of course she can't because she doesn't quite know. Yet she keeps up the pretense and says nothing. A smirk touches Gordon’s face. As the old saying goes, you can’t bullshit a bullshitter.
“Nothing at all, Mel. What were you thinking about?”
Narrowing her eyes a little like she's deciding whether to say it, but because she's so excited about the upcoming match, she spills it.
“You know, I've never realized how much fun being the top champion can be. You know Grayson? The guy that's been dying to drive me out of Portland? He thought getting the title shot would make that a guarantee. But I played him. Snatched up that chance with a low blow. It's so… So…”
She averts her gaze, snapping her fingers as she tries to find the word.
“Easy! Yes! It was so easy. Like, I remember how much I struggled the last time. But after returning to the ring, it's been such a breeze! And the mind games. Oh my god… It's so fun! You know? Amazing… I can hardly describe it. And the best part is, no guilt whatsoever.”
There's a look of wonder on her face now as she leans back in her seat. The truth is, she's never actually said all this out loud or tell anyone about it. Sure she's expressed joy in all her achievements but not this honestly. A look crosses Gordon’s face, one that rarely appears, one he only reserves for those he has faith in: Disappointment.
“You think that losing a match on purpose is something to be proud of? Really? I taught you better than that, Mel. The ends justify the means, sure, but your end was losing. You had a chance to fight and you took the easy way out. That is nothing to be proud of.”
He would expect to see her looking crushed by the harsh truth but there she is, sitting there all smiles as if what he has just said is music to her ears.
“But I didn't even hesitate. I knew I could do it,” she says with full conviction, “Yeah last time I prooooobably wouldn't have the guts to pull that off. But the plan has to go on. And keeping my title is part of it. So I think that's a major personal improvement. Yay me!”
She laughs. Though meant as a joke, she feels like it may as well be true. She holds up her right hand, expecting a high-five from him. There’s not a lot of subtle context in the way that Gordon speaks, his disappointment was obvious, and yet Blyss’s reaction is as if she doesn’t realize. Gordon looks at her hand before back at her face.
“Your brain did register what I said like, thirty seconds ago, right? What’s the point of being a champion if you refuse to act like one?”
Tilting her head slightly, she gives him a look like she doesn’t understand. “Whatcha mean, Gordo? I've still got my title, don't I? That's the whole point!”
“Yeh, sure…”
She gestures to her still raised hand, smiling gleefully. Gordon lets out a deep, frustrated sigh, before looking up into her eyes. Chastising her isn’t working, and if he continues, getting shut out is the only real ending. Gordon reluctantly raises his hand, and gives Blyss a high-five, but his fingers curl between hers as if to hold her hand, his gaze still on hers.
“Just be careful, alright?”
If there’s anyone who could pull her back to reality, from whatever frame of mind she’s done to herself, it’s him. From friends to lovers to friends again, they have been through a lot together for the past three years. Except the time she isolated herself of course, which seems to have truly changed a major part of her that even he cannot possibly reach anymore.
“Careful?”
She gives him a look like he’s overreacting and chuckles, brushing off the concern. She lets go of his hand.
“Of course. I mean, that’s why there’s the plan, right? I’ve put a lot of thought into it. It’s led me here. It hasn’t failed, and I don’t think it will. Cheating was part of the game, Gordon. See, it’s fucked up Grayson’s mind now. He wants to put his career on the line next week. His career! He’s so desperate. And all I did was ruin his dream match. See how fast I could do that? But he's the one who took it one step further… Right over the edge.”
She giggles, feeling so pleased with herself. How can she not? Everything is falling right into place for her. It’s beautiful. And at this point, nothing else matters. Even right now when she’s talking, Gordon and the rest of the world around her are just a blur in her vision. All she sees is her one hand being raised in victory with the other holding the title up high and her enemy retreating in shame.
“I’ve got him. He doesn’t know it yet, but I do. And that feeling, is just awesome. Have I ever been THIS confident before a huge match like this, huh? Come on. You know full well I usually don’t. But I am now. That’s great, right?”
She nods, as if in response to herself. A rhetorical question in her mind of course. But Gordon replies anyways, and bluntly.
“I’ve put my career on the line before as well, Mel. There are a lot of similarities with Grayson and myself.”
She scoffs. “No... You’re you and Grayson’s an idiot.”
There’s a sort of finality in her tone, one that reeks of pure stubbornness. He knows this all too well.
“Right. Anyway, enough about business. There is food to be had and I’m hungry as fuuuuuck.”
Gordon gives her a smile. She shrugs, before shooting back a teasing grin.
“Fine. I know better than to come between you and food.”
They tuck into their food, quietly at first. But Blyss isn’t all content with dropping the topic just yet. There’s just one more thing she wants to say. A serious look crosses her face as she bites her lower lip before breaking the silence.
“I know what I’m doing, you know. I can tell you’re holding back, whatever it is. But really, I’m okay here. There’s no need to worry.”
Even when she tries not to think of her match, those thoughts will always come back. Business is business, but it’s her life. And it’s everything. Telling her to stop thinking or talking about it is like telling her to quit breathing.
“I’ve got it all figured out now,” she says.
But all she gets is, “Uh huh.”
With that Gordon goes fully back to his eating, keen to leave this topic behind. Usually, she would argue, hating to be left unheard. She could sulk right now and go on and on trying to prove he’s wrong and that she’s right till she runs out of breath. But she’s already said her piece.
If he or anyone else who’s doubting her needs more convincing, she just needs to keep racking up wins and that means no losing the title ever. Maybe then, they will all finally understand.
Wednesday, 24 Feb 2016
Location: Undisclosed
The following is a video clip of Blyss addressing the upcoming PWP match with nothing but a simple backdrop of a plain wall. No hint of where it takes place. She herself is dressed in casual t-shirt and jeans, smiling up at the camera.
Blyss
I’m baaaaaack! Did you miss me, PWP? ‘Cause I sure miss you. It’s been a very long time, hasn’t it? Did you think I was gone forever? No, when a company provides the opportunity for wrestlers from different promotions to compete on the same stage, you know it’s only a matter of time till I make my return. So now that I’ve conquered Portland Pro, what else is there to do but to spread the gospel of my legacy in this business? As much as I love sitting on my cosy, warm throne, I’m aware of the huge target on my back. People say titles don’t matter but they need to remove this belt from me if they wanna eradicate me. In my pursuit for the Openweight championship, I was relentless. And when I did become champion, they say I’ve gone “out of control” but what they really mean is “invincible”. They just can’t comprehend the level of zealousness I have. I’m so far ahead that they can’t reach me. But they can tell you that I’m always the one to beat. Win or lose, having my name alongside theirs etched forever in wrestling history is a boon to their careers. You can even ask those outside Portland, and they’ll tell you the same thing.
Now guess who’s riding high on not one but two recent monumental wins? ME. One, Portland’s beloved Grayson Street finally got the fight he’s been begging for and then barely escaped with his life. Now he’s gone and his career may just be over but thanks to me, he will always be remembered. A consolation prize for the one who tried. And that’s not a bad thing. We’ve all got a role to play in this world, don’t we? Some people are born to succeed, while others are just doomed to fail. And two, I picked up the victory for my team in the company’s first ever Trios match that signifies, out with the old and in with the new.
See, I don’t just carry this title around. I embody what the championship is all about, the fantasies of what being a perfect champion should be. I’m a walking, breathing example of it. But who’s Mark Storm? The Spokesman of a Generation? No, Mark, you don’t get to speak for me! I’m Blyss, the eternal Portland Pro Openweight champion. If there’s anyone who’s paving the way for the next, it’s ME! As expected, and deservingly so, PWP is giving me their main event spot. And you know why you should be worried, Mark? There’s nothing I love more than a grand stage like this to destroy people like you who think they’re some sort of saviors. I get a kick out of simply making people eat their words out of humiliation. They're always wrong about me. The Reckoning of Professional Wrestling? No, you are not.
PWP used to be a place for me to prove myself that I can do the things someone else has done before. Well, what can I say? I was once young and naive. But now, PWP is where I’m gonna shine because wrestling is what I do best. There’s always competition over at Portland, but it’s now a matter of defending what I’ve earned. But here in PWP, it’s a different ball game. I’m taking my career to new heights, a far cry from the wrestler you might remember. The Blyss you knew is but a distant memory now.
That’s what this industry does. It’s constantly evolving, and so are you. No matter how hard you try, at the end of the day, someway somehow you get exposed. Your strengths, your weaknesses. They’re all accounted for in the ring. I’ve learned long ago that the line between personal and professional lives is just a myth. I don’t pretend to be anyone else but the person you meet in the ring if I can help it, ‘cause that’s me outside of it too. What you see is what you get… if you know where to look. This is the first time we’ll be competing, Mark. It's like a first date, don't you think? How exciting! I’m gonna make an amazing first impression. You'll see.
I’m baaaaaack! Did you miss me, PWP? ‘Cause I sure miss you. It’s been a very long time, hasn’t it? Did you think I was gone forever? No, when a company provides the opportunity for wrestlers from different promotions to compete on the same stage, you know it’s only a matter of time till I make my return. So now that I’ve conquered Portland Pro, what else is there to do but to spread the gospel of my legacy in this business? As much as I love sitting on my cosy, warm throne, I’m aware of the huge target on my back. People say titles don’t matter but they need to remove this belt from me if they wanna eradicate me. In my pursuit for the Openweight championship, I was relentless. And when I did become champion, they say I’ve gone “out of control” but what they really mean is “invincible”. They just can’t comprehend the level of zealousness I have. I’m so far ahead that they can’t reach me. But they can tell you that I’m always the one to beat. Win or lose, having my name alongside theirs etched forever in wrestling history is a boon to their careers. You can even ask those outside Portland, and they’ll tell you the same thing.
Now guess who’s riding high on not one but two recent monumental wins? ME. One, Portland’s beloved Grayson Street finally got the fight he’s been begging for and then barely escaped with his life. Now he’s gone and his career may just be over but thanks to me, he will always be remembered. A consolation prize for the one who tried. And that’s not a bad thing. We’ve all got a role to play in this world, don’t we? Some people are born to succeed, while others are just doomed to fail. And two, I picked up the victory for my team in the company’s first ever Trios match that signifies, out with the old and in with the new.
See, I don’t just carry this title around. I embody what the championship is all about, the fantasies of what being a perfect champion should be. I’m a walking, breathing example of it. But who’s Mark Storm? The Spokesman of a Generation? No, Mark, you don’t get to speak for me! I’m Blyss, the eternal Portland Pro Openweight champion. If there’s anyone who’s paving the way for the next, it’s ME! As expected, and deservingly so, PWP is giving me their main event spot. And you know why you should be worried, Mark? There’s nothing I love more than a grand stage like this to destroy people like you who think they’re some sort of saviors. I get a kick out of simply making people eat their words out of humiliation. They're always wrong about me. The Reckoning of Professional Wrestling? No, you are not.
PWP used to be a place for me to prove myself that I can do the things someone else has done before. Well, what can I say? I was once young and naive. But now, PWP is where I’m gonna shine because wrestling is what I do best. There’s always competition over at Portland, but it’s now a matter of defending what I’ve earned. But here in PWP, it’s a different ball game. I’m taking my career to new heights, a far cry from the wrestler you might remember. The Blyss you knew is but a distant memory now.
That’s what this industry does. It’s constantly evolving, and so are you. No matter how hard you try, at the end of the day, someway somehow you get exposed. Your strengths, your weaknesses. They’re all accounted for in the ring. I’ve learned long ago that the line between personal and professional lives is just a myth. I don’t pretend to be anyone else but the person you meet in the ring if I can help it, ‘cause that’s me outside of it too. What you see is what you get… if you know where to look. This is the first time we’ll be competing, Mark. It's like a first date, don't you think? How exciting! I’m gonna make an amazing first impression. You'll see.
With that, the video ends.