Post by Icon Lady Eva Hikari on Jan 12, 2015 5:13:39 GMT -6
Backstage it was the usual hive of activity, cast and crew to the greatest show on earth swarmed in an attempt to perfect every detail. Techs ran wires, trainers stalked their “stars”, managers offered pep talks and subtle hints. While the main event players sought out a few sacred moments of seclusion. Pre show jitters could hit you at any level of this world. It wasn’t about overcoming them so much as how you coped. Some paced, others rehearsed their promos to themselves. The TV champion could do either, though right now she had chosen to fall into habit that seemed more like a relic from another life. The door to her locker room was open, left hanging by his Lordship after she’d booted him out. The music assaulting common decency and ears alike did not fit her mood at all. Yet as “Make a man out of you” blared, the champions mood only seemed to darken.
"We all gon' party like it's 1888..."
One of her challengers awkwardly dances by the open door, unable to hear the Mulan tune over the one playing through his iPod. As Kolic continues singing "Jamaican Inspector Man", he glances in the locker room and sees the Eva hunched over, oblivious to everything around her. He stops his music, looks around, and knocks on the door. Getting no response, he tries again with more force, accidentally startling the TV Champ. Surprised at herself for being caught off guard, she actually stands before she realises she’d moved at all. Shaking her head and doing her best to school her expression into a neutral blank, she subtly kills her music as she turns to face him. The offer of a brief, barely there smile stands as an apology.
Eva: Alright love, is it wise for you to be here? We’re supposed to be hating on each other right now or something.
Kolic: I don't see why, just because we're competing for the same title. Seems like a waste of energy for something that'll be over in ten to fifteen minutes. Besides, I can't in good conscience let you wallow in...whatever's going on so close to our match. No one but Champa wants that, and we can't allow that, can we?
Eva: Wallow? Maybe I was just thinking intently? Wallowing sounds so drab……but don’t worry. Come match time you wont even notice.
Kolic: Might just be me, but I use that kind of music for distraction, not contemplation. I mean, if I were to listen to it, that is...
He lets this thought trail off, as it should.
Kolic: So what's going on? Clearly our TV Title match wasn't your focus with Mulan invading your brain.
Pushing her hands into the pocket of her hoodie she shrugs, visibly shrinking into herself as she resumes her seat.
Eva: It wasn’t. It should be, it should be the centre of my whole bloody world right now. A big match against two people I have traded epic blows with over the years. For a title that defines me in a way none of the others ever could. I should be walking tall and shouting proud. Representing my title with the dignity and dedication it deserves. I just…..I don’t know. Maybe I’m past it? Maybe I’m finding it harder to connect to the person I need to be to go out there night after night? Maybe I never really knew what I was doing to begin with? There’s a whole lotta maybes right now, and only one big bloody certainty. Every promise I made since my return I have broken.
Kolic crosses his arms and leans against the wall.
Kolic: Ah, so you're worried you're not the same confident, merciless force you've been for years in GZW. So what's changed? What has muted Lady Eva Hikari?
Eva: Isn’t that the question…..
Kolic: And one only you would be able to answer. Since you're struggling to find one, it's taken your focus away from other things. Namely, anything to do with GZW.
He cups his chin and thinks for a second.
Kolic: You know what I think you should do about it?
Eva: What’s that?
Kolic: Just quit. Give up. You're obviously not 100% in the game, so drop the title and let Champa and me compete for it. Go back to England and watch the rest of us put forth the effort that you apparently can't.
For a few brief moments she simply stares at him. It wasn’t as if what he was saying was anything she hadn’t thought of. It was just strange to be hearing it from him.
Eva: That’s not a bad idea love…..I could plant a vegetable garden and take up crochet. You know….I’ve always wanted some extra time to take up bird watching. How perfect!
Kolic stares right back at her.
Kolic: It would sure make my job tonight much easier. You get to grow your rutabegas, and I don't have to worry about someone too distracted to put up a proper fight.
Eva: What the bloody hell is a rutabaga?
Shaking her head to dismiss the thought of a vegetable she could barely pronounce, never mind grow she rises to her feet.
Eva: Even distracted, even doubting my own abilities in this world. You wouldn’t have a proper fight tonight. Can you imagine? You and Champa fighting it out over a title that means sod all to either of you? The winner facing Pip? Heh yep, can see it now. The excitement, the intrigue, the overbearing display of skill. I may not know where exactly my head is right now, but I have pride in my work. If I’m going to give up my belt to any of you, you better bloody well earn it.
Kolic knows this is what he wanted to hear, the champion finding her reason to fight. Still, he doesn't congratulate her, but only smirks and says:
Kolic: Prove it.
Despite herself she actually laughed, the sound cutting through whatever tension had filled the room.
Eva: Not a request to be made lightly sweetheart.
Kolic: Which is why I said it. After that breakthrough, did you really expect warm and fuzzy? Even from me? C'mon son. Now you keep that attitude, and bring it to the ring tonight. I, on the other hand, will get the post-match bandages ready. Hopefully quickly enough for round two right after.
Eva: Son? Really? You’re bloody lucky I like you y’know. I’ll bring everything I’ve got, you better do the same. Though as far as warm and fuzzy goes, this conversation never happened……but thank you.
Kolic starts to walk out the door and turns his head back around.
Kolic: For what? I was never here...
He puts his earbuds back in and walks down the hallway to his own locker room. Watching him leave she sinks back to her seat, her body slumping as if the air had been knocked out of her. The haunted stare falls back into place, her lips curling at the corners in a nervous smile. For the first time in her whole life she found herself shadows by the twin tormentors of uncertainty and self doubt. Blinking as if suddenly aware of her surroundings and the risk letting the façade slip posed, she pushes her hands through her hair. A frustrated sigh leaving her as she pulls herself to her feet and throws all her aggression into slamming the door.
"We all gon' party like it's 1888..."
One of her challengers awkwardly dances by the open door, unable to hear the Mulan tune over the one playing through his iPod. As Kolic continues singing "Jamaican Inspector Man", he glances in the locker room and sees the Eva hunched over, oblivious to everything around her. He stops his music, looks around, and knocks on the door. Getting no response, he tries again with more force, accidentally startling the TV Champ. Surprised at herself for being caught off guard, she actually stands before she realises she’d moved at all. Shaking her head and doing her best to school her expression into a neutral blank, she subtly kills her music as she turns to face him. The offer of a brief, barely there smile stands as an apology.
Eva: Alright love, is it wise for you to be here? We’re supposed to be hating on each other right now or something.
Kolic: I don't see why, just because we're competing for the same title. Seems like a waste of energy for something that'll be over in ten to fifteen minutes. Besides, I can't in good conscience let you wallow in...whatever's going on so close to our match. No one but Champa wants that, and we can't allow that, can we?
Eva: Wallow? Maybe I was just thinking intently? Wallowing sounds so drab……but don’t worry. Come match time you wont even notice.
Kolic: Might just be me, but I use that kind of music for distraction, not contemplation. I mean, if I were to listen to it, that is...
He lets this thought trail off, as it should.
Kolic: So what's going on? Clearly our TV Title match wasn't your focus with Mulan invading your brain.
Pushing her hands into the pocket of her hoodie she shrugs, visibly shrinking into herself as she resumes her seat.
Eva: It wasn’t. It should be, it should be the centre of my whole bloody world right now. A big match against two people I have traded epic blows with over the years. For a title that defines me in a way none of the others ever could. I should be walking tall and shouting proud. Representing my title with the dignity and dedication it deserves. I just…..I don’t know. Maybe I’m past it? Maybe I’m finding it harder to connect to the person I need to be to go out there night after night? Maybe I never really knew what I was doing to begin with? There’s a whole lotta maybes right now, and only one big bloody certainty. Every promise I made since my return I have broken.
Kolic crosses his arms and leans against the wall.
Kolic: Ah, so you're worried you're not the same confident, merciless force you've been for years in GZW. So what's changed? What has muted Lady Eva Hikari?
Eva: Isn’t that the question…..
Kolic: And one only you would be able to answer. Since you're struggling to find one, it's taken your focus away from other things. Namely, anything to do with GZW.
He cups his chin and thinks for a second.
Kolic: You know what I think you should do about it?
Eva: What’s that?
Kolic: Just quit. Give up. You're obviously not 100% in the game, so drop the title and let Champa and me compete for it. Go back to England and watch the rest of us put forth the effort that you apparently can't.
For a few brief moments she simply stares at him. It wasn’t as if what he was saying was anything she hadn’t thought of. It was just strange to be hearing it from him.
Eva: That’s not a bad idea love…..I could plant a vegetable garden and take up crochet. You know….I’ve always wanted some extra time to take up bird watching. How perfect!
Kolic stares right back at her.
Kolic: It would sure make my job tonight much easier. You get to grow your rutabegas, and I don't have to worry about someone too distracted to put up a proper fight.
Eva: What the bloody hell is a rutabaga?
Shaking her head to dismiss the thought of a vegetable she could barely pronounce, never mind grow she rises to her feet.
Eva: Even distracted, even doubting my own abilities in this world. You wouldn’t have a proper fight tonight. Can you imagine? You and Champa fighting it out over a title that means sod all to either of you? The winner facing Pip? Heh yep, can see it now. The excitement, the intrigue, the overbearing display of skill. I may not know where exactly my head is right now, but I have pride in my work. If I’m going to give up my belt to any of you, you better bloody well earn it.
Kolic knows this is what he wanted to hear, the champion finding her reason to fight. Still, he doesn't congratulate her, but only smirks and says:
Kolic: Prove it.
Despite herself she actually laughed, the sound cutting through whatever tension had filled the room.
Eva: Not a request to be made lightly sweetheart.
Kolic: Which is why I said it. After that breakthrough, did you really expect warm and fuzzy? Even from me? C'mon son. Now you keep that attitude, and bring it to the ring tonight. I, on the other hand, will get the post-match bandages ready. Hopefully quickly enough for round two right after.
Eva: Son? Really? You’re bloody lucky I like you y’know. I’ll bring everything I’ve got, you better do the same. Though as far as warm and fuzzy goes, this conversation never happened……but thank you.
Kolic starts to walk out the door and turns his head back around.
Kolic: For what? I was never here...
He puts his earbuds back in and walks down the hallway to his own locker room. Watching him leave she sinks back to her seat, her body slumping as if the air had been knocked out of her. The haunted stare falls back into place, her lips curling at the corners in a nervous smile. For the first time in her whole life she found herself shadows by the twin tormentors of uncertainty and self doubt. Blinking as if suddenly aware of her surroundings and the risk letting the façade slip posed, she pushes her hands through her hair. A frustrated sigh leaving her as she pulls herself to her feet and throws all her aggression into slamming the door.
