Post by Pax Stormcrow on Aug 28, 2021 1:00:54 GMT
The deep boom of the drum resonated through his chest with each beat of the sticks on the rawhide cover. It felt as if his heart beat to the rhythm of the drum as he brought the stick down to the rhythm of the song. He looked around the circle, familiar to him from the practice sessions leading up to the powwow. An elder, the leader of this particular circle nodded to him. Pax let his eyes slip closed, his hand bringing the stick down in familiar rhythm as he opened his mouth, letting out the song that was as old as his people ring forth from his chest.
The powwow organizers had approached him when the Heir to the Throne was announced. They wanted him to sit at the host drum to open up the Powwow. A great honor, and one that Pax accepted graciously. Like most of his people, he loved the Powwow. The bright colors of the regalia, the singing and dancing. Getting together with friends and family. But also the food. He had danced when he was young, pushed forward by his mother who had been an accomplished Jingle Dancer before her illness set in. Pax liked it well enough, but not as much as the drum. To sit in a circle, keeping the beat while letting yourself sing from your soul in a group is a connection like no other. The fact that he would not need to sweat in the Regalia was a happy bonus.
So, he sat with the drum group, dressed in a pair of jeans and the stylized button up shirt that at least matched the colors of his fellow drummers and a bolo tie with a turquoise set on it. He matched them, save for not having the symbol of the drum group on his shirt. After all, he was just a visitor. The evening sun bearing down as the opening procession marched it’s way around the dance area. Pax let his voice slip quieter, passing the lead on to be picked up by the next singer and let his eyes look around the circle. This microcosm of a community, his community was what kept him going every week. He naturally wanted to create his own legacy, the glory and honor that being a champion would bring him. But he also wanted to do it for his Band. To raise his hand high as an example of his people and for his people.
This is why he sat here with his people, 48 hours before one of the toughest matches of his career. Some might say he should be in the gym. But training your spirit is just as important as training his body. A smile spreads on his face as he finishes his sweep, but then it happens. His eyes locked onto the eyes of a tall jingle dancer. Their eyes meet and she smiles, eyes sparkling as her hip pops slightly towards him in the steps of her dance and she gives him a wink.
He freezes for a moment, enough to drum off beat once and earning the scowls of those around the drum. Cheeks feeling warm, he focuses back on the drum, falling back to the rhythm before more mistakes were made.
_____________
The vlog starts showing the image of the hotel room behind him as he sits at the desk. He grins brightly at the webcam.
“Ey what up Neechi’s it’s ya boi! Just got into Miami tonight and you know I wanted to check in with you. Big night for Team DH Sunday. The Saints be marchin in to get their shot at the title and they are absolutely going to kill it. You know that I’m hype for my boys. They are gonna do some work.”
Pax lifts a hand, pumping it in excitement.
“But then of course, there’s me. I battled through 6 other guys to get my shot at the TV title. I know we all wanted a rematch from the semi-finals but I don’t think anyone was expecting to get it this soon. But I’m gonna be real, I am pumped as hell to face JC again. I just wish the circumstances were better.”
He takes a deep breath, crossing his arms over his chest.
“JC man, I get it. I don’t know how many matches I had to wrestle wondering if my mom was gonna make it or not. How many times I had to go out under the lights wondering if I was going to get a call that she was gone. That messes with your head. It worms it’s way in there. There’s two ways to handle it, I see. You either let it mess with your head and pull you down. Or you push forward, using that pain and worry to drive you. To push yourself so far that the worry fades as you focus on what it is you want. Me?”
He lets out a breath and looks down.
“I did the first one. It got in my head. I left, I took my time, I healed, and I came back. But now I’m more focused than I’ve ever been. I’m more determined than I have ever been. I let people down before and I am making damn sure I’m never going to do that again. I don’t know what direction you are going to take it in JC. I’m with you every step of the way. No judgement. But I hope it gets you that focus. You do great work and I want you to stay around. I want to step into the ring next to you and across from you for a long, long time. You, me and Ulf? We know we are the future, and it’s our time to shine. Let’s burn the place down man. I’m coming for that belt, so bring everything you got. I know I will. Skoden.”
He flashes two fingers to the camera and smiles.
“Peace Out”
The powwow organizers had approached him when the Heir to the Throne was announced. They wanted him to sit at the host drum to open up the Powwow. A great honor, and one that Pax accepted graciously. Like most of his people, he loved the Powwow. The bright colors of the regalia, the singing and dancing. Getting together with friends and family. But also the food. He had danced when he was young, pushed forward by his mother who had been an accomplished Jingle Dancer before her illness set in. Pax liked it well enough, but not as much as the drum. To sit in a circle, keeping the beat while letting yourself sing from your soul in a group is a connection like no other. The fact that he would not need to sweat in the Regalia was a happy bonus.
So, he sat with the drum group, dressed in a pair of jeans and the stylized button up shirt that at least matched the colors of his fellow drummers and a bolo tie with a turquoise set on it. He matched them, save for not having the symbol of the drum group on his shirt. After all, he was just a visitor. The evening sun bearing down as the opening procession marched it’s way around the dance area. Pax let his voice slip quieter, passing the lead on to be picked up by the next singer and let his eyes look around the circle. This microcosm of a community, his community was what kept him going every week. He naturally wanted to create his own legacy, the glory and honor that being a champion would bring him. But he also wanted to do it for his Band. To raise his hand high as an example of his people and for his people.
This is why he sat here with his people, 48 hours before one of the toughest matches of his career. Some might say he should be in the gym. But training your spirit is just as important as training his body. A smile spreads on his face as he finishes his sweep, but then it happens. His eyes locked onto the eyes of a tall jingle dancer. Their eyes meet and she smiles, eyes sparkling as her hip pops slightly towards him in the steps of her dance and she gives him a wink.
He freezes for a moment, enough to drum off beat once and earning the scowls of those around the drum. Cheeks feeling warm, he focuses back on the drum, falling back to the rhythm before more mistakes were made.
_____________
The vlog starts showing the image of the hotel room behind him as he sits at the desk. He grins brightly at the webcam.
“Ey what up Neechi’s it’s ya boi! Just got into Miami tonight and you know I wanted to check in with you. Big night for Team DH Sunday. The Saints be marchin in to get their shot at the title and they are absolutely going to kill it. You know that I’m hype for my boys. They are gonna do some work.”
Pax lifts a hand, pumping it in excitement.
“But then of course, there’s me. I battled through 6 other guys to get my shot at the TV title. I know we all wanted a rematch from the semi-finals but I don’t think anyone was expecting to get it this soon. But I’m gonna be real, I am pumped as hell to face JC again. I just wish the circumstances were better.”
He takes a deep breath, crossing his arms over his chest.
“JC man, I get it. I don’t know how many matches I had to wrestle wondering if my mom was gonna make it or not. How many times I had to go out under the lights wondering if I was going to get a call that she was gone. That messes with your head. It worms it’s way in there. There’s two ways to handle it, I see. You either let it mess with your head and pull you down. Or you push forward, using that pain and worry to drive you. To push yourself so far that the worry fades as you focus on what it is you want. Me?”
He lets out a breath and looks down.
“I did the first one. It got in my head. I left, I took my time, I healed, and I came back. But now I’m more focused than I’ve ever been. I’m more determined than I have ever been. I let people down before and I am making damn sure I’m never going to do that again. I don’t know what direction you are going to take it in JC. I’m with you every step of the way. No judgement. But I hope it gets you that focus. You do great work and I want you to stay around. I want to step into the ring next to you and across from you for a long, long time. You, me and Ulf? We know we are the future, and it’s our time to shine. Let’s burn the place down man. I’m coming for that belt, so bring everything you got. I know I will. Skoden.”
He flashes two fingers to the camera and smiles.
“Peace Out”