005: (NOT) My Hero (#1 vs. Mark Storm)
May 12, 2017 23:20:19 GMT -5
Post by Admin on May 12, 2017 23:20:19 GMT -5
Pinky's Vlog || Stardate 94899.72
"That moment you decide to come back is special, y'know? You mentally put that pin in and it becomes a focal point – things all start to sprout from that one seed. I know you've been here before, Mr. Storm. I'm not dumb and I spent a good ten seconds looking you up on Google – impressive career by the way. For you, it's an easier trip. See, you know the way. For me, it was a leap into the unknown."
The view shifts to reveal Mia Fallon standing on a bridge, her back to the water, elbows resting on the rail.
"And my trainer… my husband… everyone's been telling me not to sweat it because two wins and two losses isn't bad. Isn't the end of the world. Everyone knows that first times back are always the hardest. When you get out there in front of an unfamiliar crowd, working with folks you've never felt out before, things get a little hairy – a little scary. I get nervous. I freak out. It's not paranoia. It's something a bit more unexplained, really. Like last week, when I pulled out all my stops, when I fought as hard as I could and still came up short against one half of the tag team champions there's only so much sugar you can put on something before it goes from sweet to sickening."
She sighs.
"I'm not going to try and draw some parallel between us. I know I'm a million miles behind. I know there isn't a single story I could tell that would rock your world, that could make you fear me. Honestly? I don't want that. I don't. It's just… I honestly don't think I'm ever going to be the type to drag around all that," she air-quotes the next words, "past accomplishment baggage. What we do out there? It isn't noble. It isn't world-changing – sure we end up inspiring some to conquer their fears and all that other stuff but was that ever your intent? I doubt it. You got into this because you wanted to collect trinkets. You wanted to amass a huge record, skewed towards the wins – and if there isn't another Mark Storm out there, you're well on your way. Like holy shit. Pages upon pages of stuff. So many hours of matches that my head is spinning and yet… I don't feel like I know anything about you. The real you."
She turns, looking down at the water, pushing her wind-blown hair from her face.
"You want to be a hero. Full stop. And I don't know whether you're joking or you're legitimately that touched in the head that you think you can just say that and everyone will smile, nod and blindly get on with the worship. I mean, obviously, the meteoric rise to fame is awesome – admirable, even. Belts within a few months of joining – I watched some of those defenses. I watched a fighting champion and maybe that guy would have inspired me. This guy though? The guy preaching unfinished business while leaving greasy fingerprints all over the trophy case – you're supposed to be my hero?"
She shakes her head.
"No, see. Heroes, they do it for the right reasons. They don't care about glory. They don't care about their names on the marquee or their faces plastered on billboards. Heroes are righteous. They're virtuous. They do things the right way, for the right reasons. This ain't no place for a hero to call home – nobody is going to hold your cape while you jump back into the fray, trying to rip the spotlight from someone who knows what addiction is."
Mia pauses. Bites her lip.
"Come at me like a PERFECT Storm – all empty bluster and blow and watered-down crap that other people might eat up – I'm not having it."
She lifts her head, staring back at the camera.
"I plan to bust my ass when you've called it quits. I'll be there putting in extra hours because when you think you're the best you're complacent – lazy! To call yourself the best is to choke on your own ego – nothing heroic there. You didn't have an easy road last time. Yeah," she scoffs, "join the club. Heroes never die, Mark, but they do lose and they don't get the luxury of walking away afterwards. They fight until it's over and then they start again. That's what REAL heroes do."
She smiles.
"That's what I do."
