Post by RAM on Jun 3, 2024 3:29:25 GMT
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October 31, 2019 -- 7:30 PM
Inside the Watauga High gymnasium...
R.A. Marshall slowly trudged his way into the packed dance hall, scanning the room for any sign of Rydia in her Aerith Gainsborough outfit. He shook his head as he tried to read the room, getting a feel for how the entire student body was going to respond to his Cloud Strife attire. He heard a few laughs, saw a couple of smirks here and there, but the general mood was festive as the theme from the iconic 90s show Friends was blasted from the loudspeakers.
{ ...hoo-boy, I think I'll have to kick my own ass... }
Just as Ram predicted, he observed the 90s flair on full display: frizzled hair in the style of Jennifer Aniston, bucket hats, and other trends from the decade. Even Mr. Connery was in on the act, wearing a tuxedo inspired by Pierce Brosnan's iteration of James Bond. The vice-principal approached Ram with a slight chuckle on her mug, pointing the cardboard iteration of the famous Buster Sword.
"Well there, I'd say that's a rather...interesting...get-up you've got right there."
Ram sighed, his mind racing with thoughts on what he really wanted to say. Yet all he get out of his mouth was...
"Thank you, sir."
Mr. Connery nodded. Ram approached the snacks and drinks table that had been set up and grabbed a can of Dr. Pepper and a bag of Doritos, handing a dollar bill to an attendant in the process. From out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Rydia standing near the main stage. He slowly walked towards her, his heart pounding with every step he took.
{ ...here goes nothin'... }
Rydia cracked a sly grin from ear to ear.
"Oooohhhh...I think you've cleaned up quite nicely!"
Ram didn't say anything.
"Earth to RAM...are you there?!"
"No."
Rydia giggled.
"Don't you want to say--"
"Not a word. Not a single word."
"C'mon! Did your aunt make that for you--"
Ram threw his hands up in the air.
"I don't wanna take about it, okay?! I...I look like a damn fool out here!"
Rydia poked Ram in the ribs with the Aerith staff.
"Party pooper!"
She laughed out loud as Ram shook his head. As they locked eyes upon each other, Ram realized that he was going to be in for a long night. It all got started in earnest, when Rydia grabbed Ram by the arm and started dancing with him to the tune of the Spice Girls' classic "Wannabe." He was tripping all over himself and the other students as he struggled to kee up with the rhythm. His eyes widened as the moves got zanier by the beat, and all the while he prayed that the night could come to a quick end.
But alas, the roller-coaster ride was just getting started.
{ ...hoo-boy, what did I get myself into... }
To be continued...
-------
October 31, 2019 -- 7:30 PM
Inside the Watauga High gymnasium...
R.A. Marshall slowly trudged his way into the packed dance hall, scanning the room for any sign of Rydia in her Aerith Gainsborough outfit. He shook his head as he tried to read the room, getting a feel for how the entire student body was going to respond to his Cloud Strife attire. He heard a few laughs, saw a couple of smirks here and there, but the general mood was festive as the theme from the iconic 90s show Friends was blasted from the loudspeakers.
{ ...hoo-boy, I think I'll have to kick my own ass... }
Just as Ram predicted, he observed the 90s flair on full display: frizzled hair in the style of Jennifer Aniston, bucket hats, and other trends from the decade. Even Mr. Connery was in on the act, wearing a tuxedo inspired by Pierce Brosnan's iteration of James Bond. The vice-principal approached Ram with a slight chuckle on her mug, pointing the cardboard iteration of the famous Buster Sword.
"Well there, I'd say that's a rather...interesting...get-up you've got right there."
Ram sighed, his mind racing with thoughts on what he really wanted to say. Yet all he get out of his mouth was...
"Thank you, sir."
Mr. Connery nodded. Ram approached the snacks and drinks table that had been set up and grabbed a can of Dr. Pepper and a bag of Doritos, handing a dollar bill to an attendant in the process. From out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Rydia standing near the main stage. He slowly walked towards her, his heart pounding with every step he took.
{ ...here goes nothin'... }
Rydia cracked a sly grin from ear to ear.
"Oooohhhh...I think you've cleaned up quite nicely!"
Ram didn't say anything.
"Earth to RAM...are you there?!"
"No."
Rydia giggled.
"Don't you want to say--"
"Not a word. Not a single word."
"C'mon! Did your aunt make that for you--"
Ram threw his hands up in the air.
"I don't wanna take about it, okay?! I...I look like a damn fool out here!"
Rydia poked Ram in the ribs with the Aerith staff.
"Party pooper!"
She laughed out loud as Ram shook his head. As they locked eyes upon each other, Ram realized that he was going to be in for a long night. It all got started in earnest, when Rydia grabbed Ram by the arm and started dancing with him to the tune of the Spice Girls' classic "Wannabe." He was tripping all over himself and the other students as he struggled to kee up with the rhythm. His eyes widened as the moves got zanier by the beat, and all the while he prayed that the night could come to a quick end.
But alas, the roller-coaster ride was just getting started.
{ ...hoo-boy, what did I get myself into... }
To be continued...
-------
"Well, well.
Either the fates are smilin' at me, or there's a bit of a mulligan to be had.
Night of the Immortals, night number two. It's like the continuation of that first high school dance after things went sideways. You walk into a packed house, survey the scene, and pray to God you don't shit your pants in front of the entire world. After all, who knew that landin' in the birthplace of the modern-day pizza and stromboli would ever feel THIS good, huh?!
Ozura couldn't even taste the meat after I knocked his face into the ground.
And TJ Alexander proved that all those trophies he wears makes him nothin' more than a l'il bitch.
Movin' on...Logan Sky.
Didn't I tell you that we'd meet again?! In case your Miracle Ear hearin' device ain't workin' properly, lemme spell it out for you. The last time you beat me, you only did so 'cuz I wound up bein' distracted by some personal shit. You know...the type of personal shit that often sticks with you, no matter how much you TRY and blot it outta your mind. Congratulations, bro...after ALL THESE YEARS, you finally get your name stamped onto the biggest stage of the world for all to see and behold.
All those years of fuckin' around and gettin' laid.
All those years of pretendin' to be some larger than life persona.
All those years of level grindin' but gettin' NOTHIN' out of it.
That's you in a nutshell, spanky. That's ALWAYS been you. Oh, you can sit there and deny it all ya want to, but the whole goddamn world -- like that high school crowd I dealth with nearly two years ago -- will see you for what you really are...a hapless jock. A washed-up deadbeat who's real claim to fame rests with the other Gladiators -- a lost soul with no destiny, no desire to push yourself to the very end.
Even if there's a price to pay and all that shit.
Yeah...I did some real stupid stuff back then, but even a consequence means you've got a huge opportunity to make a name for yourself. You see...I was never given JACK SHIT in my life! I saw what was lyin' ahead of me, and I took that chance. I seized that shot by havin' to toe the line and stay outta trouble with the cops. Now that I ain't gotta worry about that shit no more?!
It's time I unleashed a l'il payback on you.
After all, this is one second chance I ain't plannin' on wastin'.
'Cuz even if the YouTube freak, J-TV himself, happens to be wearin' zebra stripes this time around?! There ain't gonna be no distractions. There ain't gonna nothin' that's half-assed. It's all go-time from here, bubba...and if you ain't fully ready to step up?! If you ain't feelin' the vibe to shed that Gladiator label and elevate your game?! Well, big boy...I'll cut your up like an Italian deep dish, not leavin' any leftover pepperoni behind.
You shall be left just as I was left long ago -- in the gutter, iwth nothin' else but your own thoughts.
Broken. Battered.
Alone"
PROMO COUNT: 531
Well howdy there pardner.