Post by Charlotte Shimizu on Apr 27, 2024 21:40:13 GMT
“Hey Char? You ever wonder why Rini wasn’t bigger in Japan?”
“What d’you mean Nat?”
“I mean… She’s as good as either of us… Certainly better than us on technical skills… And she ain’t gaijin so… why wasn’t she bigger with Neo-Honshu?”
They’d been playing their Game again. In order to placate Hannah, they’d instituted a timer, but that had just meant the insanity of their stunts accelerated faster… Of course, it also wore them out faster too. Which is why they were already leaning against the ropes of a practice ring, drinking their water, with another ten minutes left on their clock.
They’d parted ways soon after, since Charlie had to review footage to see what she could do about partnering with Jennie, and studying Mai and April as a team. Her personal feelings were that as long as Jennie didn’t lose her temper, it’d be much the same as when she’d tagged with April.
Still, hours later, Charlie was dwelling on that simple question. Why, if Rini was as good as she and Nat were, wasn’t she bigger in Japan?
Rini had had nothing going against her as Charlie or Nat had. Rini was as good as Charlie and Nat… And since coming to IWF, Rini’d shown that she had the ability to win decisively against bigger opponents, and the presence to win over the crowd. She was certainly far better than Charlie was at doing the promos.
Charlie had spent so much time since Nat had pointed out that discrepancy going over all the reasons Rini had given her.
They’re focusing on someone else right now.
I was told I need to work on my Transitions/Highflying/Fan interaction.
I’m doing promo workshops. I'm sure it’ll be soon!
I’m working the dark matches, it’s ok!
At the time, Charlie hadn’t thought about the reasons. She hadn’t paid attention because she was just glad that Rini was still with her, still her friend. Charlie wasn’t sure what she would’ve done without Rini during those years. Yet now, looking back, the excuses flaked away like paint over rusted metal, making her wonder how she had missed all the signs.
It hurt.
The only reason Charlie could think that Rini would’ve been held back was because of their friendship. Charlie had always known that Rini was (and still is) unashamed of her, to the point of defying even her parents over their friendship. Charlie had known that Rini would refuse any suggestion they hide their camaraderie, so she’d never even suggested it. But if it had held Rini back?
That meant she had stifled Rini’s career, and had deepened the rift between Rini and her parents, and who knew what else.
It hurt.
Why hadn’t Rini said anything? Why had she fobbed Charlie off with such flimsy excuses? Was that what Rini had been told?
Then, Nat’s expression as she made that pointed question floated back to the front of her mind. No. Rini had known and had kept it from Charlie. Probably to avoid adding to the woes Charlie was already experiencing under Neo-Honshu’s management. But then why did Nat know? Had Nat guessed, seeing it from the outside? Or had Rini told her?
If Rini had just said something, they could’ve-
Charlie stopped that thought. They couldn’t have done anything but go back to Hachimangū Dojo, the only place they’d been accepted. It was that, or Charlie leaving for home sooner, with no Hannah to get the contract for IWF. They would’ve been lucky to wind up on the local circuit, barely able to afford an apartment if they didn’t just bunk together in Charlie’s old room at her parents’. Maybe Hannah would’ve still gotten them into IWF after she graduated from college, but that was no guarantee.
And if they’d left Neo-Honshu before Rini’s last fight with her parents, would Rini have even come with her?
Everything hurt.
Everything she’d known as True was unraveling and-
Focus on what you know, Una.
Benkei… always coming to her rescue. Charlie sighed, then took a deep breath and tried to calm her mind. Rini was her friend. That was true. Rini had sacrificed pretty much everything for their friendship.
Rini made those choices herself. You didn’t make her do it. If she is sacrificing anything for you, it’s because she wants to. It’s not like you are making her do anything. You can’t take blame for everything.
Despite all the emotions swirling through her at that moment, the memory of Pax’s words made Charlie smile. It’d been the first time since the Fan Awards came out that she’d actually felt relaxed, having a casual meal at Social Capital, which was rather impressive considering the fan event she’d just gone through and that she had her meeting with April the next day to worry about.
She had to focus. She couldn’t dwell on… Whatever was going on with Rini right now. Carefully, she mentally set the issue aside. She had a job to do first. Then she could talk to Rini.
The feed opens upon a dark room, silent as two colored lights come up. On the right is a red light, and the left is blue. These lights bring the kneeling form of Charlotte Shimizu into focus, her haori-shawl elegantly draped around her shoulders and a ribbon skirt spread artfully around her.
“And yet again, my future opponent is my partner, and I must trust my future enemy to be my friend. It’s funny how history keeps repeating like that, isn’t it? I should want Jennie to fail. Yet her failure will be mine as well, and our failure will be a victory for The Murder… And, if y’all haven’t guessed by now, that is unacceptable to me. So Jennie Fenix… For one night only, I have your back, no questions asked. It’s you and me against Mai Everstone and April Madrox.”
The camera zooms in closer, leaving half Charlotte’s figure in blue and half in red illumination. She raises her right hand, looking as though she’s considering the red light playing on her skin.
“You and I have a lot of similarity in style. I’m going to trust that to work to our advantage as it did when I teamed with April. I’m sure you’ve been watching all the drama about the Iron Maiden with interest, so I have no illusions that you’ve gotten a good read on my playbook. That will make our dance at Night of the Immortals more difficult for me, I’m sure, but for now, it makes our chances better. Just don’t expect me to follow your lead. I’ve won before in a team like this by doing things my own way, and that was when my partner wasn’t a champion. Surely someone like Jennie Fenix can adapt if April Madrox can.”
Charlotte drops her right hand back to her lap and now raises her left, again regarding the light as though it were a more physical object.
“On the other side of this, we have two women who I’ve already stated are among the fiercest fighters I’ve been in a ring with. As an actual team instead of temporary allies, I imagine they’re formidable… But they’re fighting to be seen as more than shadows of their towering allies. And yet, they have chained themselves to the image of their idols, so they’ll never be more than them, merely poor imitations.”
“I’d like to think they don’t want to be that way… After all, Jennie can attest that living in the shadow of an older sister isn’t a life anyone would want to lead, can’t you Jennie? I’m certainly grateful I never had to deal with that. But that seems to be what April’s chosen. Instead of stepping away or stepping up, she followed Big Sister Brooklyn into the icy North, hoping the glory would spill onto her after it’s washed over Brooklyn and Vivienne. Nevermind that those two are like black holes and suck up everything around them. Instead of speaking out, April has chosen to be her sister’s silent follower. I’m sure she knows what her sister is doing is wrong, but she doesn’t have the will to stop her, so she’ll always be second fiddle.”
“And Everstone… Well girl… I can only imagine how much you must be hatin’ me right now. Are you wishing I’d curl up and die? Wither like a flower so you can press it between the pages of your diary? Girls like you always have diaries… Probably a black one with a tiny heart-shaped key you wear on a little necklace that’s just a black ribbon. I can almost see the page after High Stakes where you curse me to all manner of suffering because it was you who was down for the count and me holdin’ you there.”
Charlotte drops her left hand and rises smoothly to her feet. The blue light winks out as the camera zooms out to follow the movement. “And here’s one last message… and this is for Brooklyn. You may have won last week… And you may have won the one match we were both in a ring for…” Charlotte strides towards the camera, her posture perfect. “But those were mere skirmishes. The war is far from over… and between the Birds of Prey and The Murder?”
Now only Charlotte’s head and torso are in frame, a smirk on her face. “There will be No Peace.”
Charlotte raises her hand and covers the lens. The feed cuts.
It’s later released in both Japanese and Cherokee languages.
“What d’you mean Nat?”
“I mean… She’s as good as either of us… Certainly better than us on technical skills… And she ain’t gaijin so… why wasn’t she bigger with Neo-Honshu?”
They’d been playing their Game again. In order to placate Hannah, they’d instituted a timer, but that had just meant the insanity of their stunts accelerated faster… Of course, it also wore them out faster too. Which is why they were already leaning against the ropes of a practice ring, drinking their water, with another ten minutes left on their clock.
They’d parted ways soon after, since Charlie had to review footage to see what she could do about partnering with Jennie, and studying Mai and April as a team. Her personal feelings were that as long as Jennie didn’t lose her temper, it’d be much the same as when she’d tagged with April.
Still, hours later, Charlie was dwelling on that simple question. Why, if Rini was as good as she and Nat were, wasn’t she bigger in Japan?
Rini had had nothing going against her as Charlie or Nat had. Rini was as good as Charlie and Nat… And since coming to IWF, Rini’d shown that she had the ability to win decisively against bigger opponents, and the presence to win over the crowd. She was certainly far better than Charlie was at doing the promos.
Charlie had spent so much time since Nat had pointed out that discrepancy going over all the reasons Rini had given her.
They’re focusing on someone else right now.
I was told I need to work on my Transitions/Highflying/Fan interaction.
I’m doing promo workshops. I'm sure it’ll be soon!
I’m working the dark matches, it’s ok!
At the time, Charlie hadn’t thought about the reasons. She hadn’t paid attention because she was just glad that Rini was still with her, still her friend. Charlie wasn’t sure what she would’ve done without Rini during those years. Yet now, looking back, the excuses flaked away like paint over rusted metal, making her wonder how she had missed all the signs.
It hurt.
The only reason Charlie could think that Rini would’ve been held back was because of their friendship. Charlie had always known that Rini was (and still is) unashamed of her, to the point of defying even her parents over their friendship. Charlie had known that Rini would refuse any suggestion they hide their camaraderie, so she’d never even suggested it. But if it had held Rini back?
That meant she had stifled Rini’s career, and had deepened the rift between Rini and her parents, and who knew what else.
It hurt.
Why hadn’t Rini said anything? Why had she fobbed Charlie off with such flimsy excuses? Was that what Rini had been told?
Then, Nat’s expression as she made that pointed question floated back to the front of her mind. No. Rini had known and had kept it from Charlie. Probably to avoid adding to the woes Charlie was already experiencing under Neo-Honshu’s management. But then why did Nat know? Had Nat guessed, seeing it from the outside? Or had Rini told her?
If Rini had just said something, they could’ve-
Charlie stopped that thought. They couldn’t have done anything but go back to Hachimangū Dojo, the only place they’d been accepted. It was that, or Charlie leaving for home sooner, with no Hannah to get the contract for IWF. They would’ve been lucky to wind up on the local circuit, barely able to afford an apartment if they didn’t just bunk together in Charlie’s old room at her parents’. Maybe Hannah would’ve still gotten them into IWF after she graduated from college, but that was no guarantee.
And if they’d left Neo-Honshu before Rini’s last fight with her parents, would Rini have even come with her?
Everything hurt.
Everything she’d known as True was unraveling and-
Focus on what you know, Una.
Benkei… always coming to her rescue. Charlie sighed, then took a deep breath and tried to calm her mind. Rini was her friend. That was true. Rini had sacrificed pretty much everything for their friendship.
Rini made those choices herself. You didn’t make her do it. If she is sacrificing anything for you, it’s because she wants to. It’s not like you are making her do anything. You can’t take blame for everything.
Despite all the emotions swirling through her at that moment, the memory of Pax’s words made Charlie smile. It’d been the first time since the Fan Awards came out that she’d actually felt relaxed, having a casual meal at Social Capital, which was rather impressive considering the fan event she’d just gone through and that she had her meeting with April the next day to worry about.
She had to focus. She couldn’t dwell on… Whatever was going on with Rini right now. Carefully, she mentally set the issue aside. She had a job to do first. Then she could talk to Rini.
The feed opens upon a dark room, silent as two colored lights come up. On the right is a red light, and the left is blue. These lights bring the kneeling form of Charlotte Shimizu into focus, her haori-shawl elegantly draped around her shoulders and a ribbon skirt spread artfully around her.
“And yet again, my future opponent is my partner, and I must trust my future enemy to be my friend. It’s funny how history keeps repeating like that, isn’t it? I should want Jennie to fail. Yet her failure will be mine as well, and our failure will be a victory for The Murder… And, if y’all haven’t guessed by now, that is unacceptable to me. So Jennie Fenix… For one night only, I have your back, no questions asked. It’s you and me against Mai Everstone and April Madrox.”
The camera zooms in closer, leaving half Charlotte’s figure in blue and half in red illumination. She raises her right hand, looking as though she’s considering the red light playing on her skin.
“You and I have a lot of similarity in style. I’m going to trust that to work to our advantage as it did when I teamed with April. I’m sure you’ve been watching all the drama about the Iron Maiden with interest, so I have no illusions that you’ve gotten a good read on my playbook. That will make our dance at Night of the Immortals more difficult for me, I’m sure, but for now, it makes our chances better. Just don’t expect me to follow your lead. I’ve won before in a team like this by doing things my own way, and that was when my partner wasn’t a champion. Surely someone like Jennie Fenix can adapt if April Madrox can.”
Charlotte drops her right hand back to her lap and now raises her left, again regarding the light as though it were a more physical object.
“On the other side of this, we have two women who I’ve already stated are among the fiercest fighters I’ve been in a ring with. As an actual team instead of temporary allies, I imagine they’re formidable… But they’re fighting to be seen as more than shadows of their towering allies. And yet, they have chained themselves to the image of their idols, so they’ll never be more than them, merely poor imitations.”
“I’d like to think they don’t want to be that way… After all, Jennie can attest that living in the shadow of an older sister isn’t a life anyone would want to lead, can’t you Jennie? I’m certainly grateful I never had to deal with that. But that seems to be what April’s chosen. Instead of stepping away or stepping up, she followed Big Sister Brooklyn into the icy North, hoping the glory would spill onto her after it’s washed over Brooklyn and Vivienne. Nevermind that those two are like black holes and suck up everything around them. Instead of speaking out, April has chosen to be her sister’s silent follower. I’m sure she knows what her sister is doing is wrong, but she doesn’t have the will to stop her, so she’ll always be second fiddle.”
“And Everstone… Well girl… I can only imagine how much you must be hatin’ me right now. Are you wishing I’d curl up and die? Wither like a flower so you can press it between the pages of your diary? Girls like you always have diaries… Probably a black one with a tiny heart-shaped key you wear on a little necklace that’s just a black ribbon. I can almost see the page after High Stakes where you curse me to all manner of suffering because it was you who was down for the count and me holdin’ you there.”
Charlotte drops her left hand and rises smoothly to her feet. The blue light winks out as the camera zooms out to follow the movement. “And here’s one last message… and this is for Brooklyn. You may have won last week… And you may have won the one match we were both in a ring for…” Charlotte strides towards the camera, her posture perfect. “But those were mere skirmishes. The war is far from over… and between the Birds of Prey and The Murder?”
Now only Charlotte’s head and torso are in frame, a smirk on her face. “There will be No Peace.”
Charlotte raises her hand and covers the lens. The feed cuts.
It’s later released in both Japanese and Cherokee languages.
Well howdy there pardner.