Post by tsukinokumo on Sept 2, 2024 16:09:59 GMT
‘Well… There’s your answer, Bunny…’ Rini thought morosely as she packed away her things. She’d almost gotten a second suitcase for all the things she’d bought while in Europe and Japan, but Hannah was arranging for all the things they wouldn’t need on the road to be shipped back to her parents’ house. Since the elder Shimizus had a key to Charlie’s house, everything would be waiting for them once they got back.
Was there something missing? She’d known even as her music hit that her heart wasn’t in the fight. She’d known she wouldn’t win. Still, she’d done her best, but it hadn’t felt right, like she’d lost her balance even with her feet solidly planted.
“Rini?”
Rini whirled to see Charlie in the doorway. Despite her own reason to be happy, Charlie looked as pensive as Rini felt.
“Yes, Maasu?” Rini asked, aiming for her normal casual cheer, but even as the words came out, she knew it wasn’t there. Charlie heard it too, because she quickly crossed the room to wrap her arms around Rini and hold her close.
“Rini… Are you still sure about me putting East-” Charlie started but stopped when Rini jerked away to stare up at her defiantly.
“Maasu! You will not give up what you’ve achieved just so I have a partner for a tag team!” She tried to keep her voice down, but she knew she almost shouted at Charlie. “You are exactly where you should be! It’s my fault you weren’t-”
“Rini!” Charlie cut her off then, looking almost as angry as Rini had been at the idea of Charlie abandoning her solo career for the tag team. “We put that behind us. But I’m serious, I ripped you away from everything familiar and hauled you across the globe just for the sake of a dream that’s been put on hold… Again… I need to know you’re still okay with it, especially with how you’ve been struggling lately. Don’t think I don’t know you’ve been sleeping like shit either. Jack told me you fell asleep watching the S movie with him, so I know something’s bothering you. I know you’re better than what you’ve been showing in the ring so what’s wrong, Rini?”
Rini bit her lip. She couldn’t tell Charlie about the weird dreams she kept having… But how could she explain that she felt like she’d lost something by trying to ignore the dreams?
“It’s fine, Maasu… Really… Just some family drama…” Rini would’ve left it at that, but the look Charlie was giving her spoke volumes of disbelief and scepticism. “Haha’s family is mostly with me now, so she’s been feeling more pressure… Chichi’s family still won’t speak to me.”
Charlie still didn’t look like she believed Rini’s explanation, but she sighed, letting it go. “Just… Promise me, Muun… Promise you’ll say something if you want East Wind?”
It was an easy promise to make. “Of course, Maasu. I will.”
Was there something missing? She’d known even as her music hit that her heart wasn’t in the fight. She’d known she wouldn’t win. Still, she’d done her best, but it hadn’t felt right, like she’d lost her balance even with her feet solidly planted.
“Rini?”
Rini whirled to see Charlie in the doorway. Despite her own reason to be happy, Charlie looked as pensive as Rini felt.
“Yes, Maasu?” Rini asked, aiming for her normal casual cheer, but even as the words came out, she knew it wasn’t there. Charlie heard it too, because she quickly crossed the room to wrap her arms around Rini and hold her close.
“Rini… Are you still sure about me putting East-” Charlie started but stopped when Rini jerked away to stare up at her defiantly.
“Maasu! You will not give up what you’ve achieved just so I have a partner for a tag team!” She tried to keep her voice down, but she knew she almost shouted at Charlie. “You are exactly where you should be! It’s my fault you weren’t-”
“Rini!” Charlie cut her off then, looking almost as angry as Rini had been at the idea of Charlie abandoning her solo career for the tag team. “We put that behind us. But I’m serious, I ripped you away from everything familiar and hauled you across the globe just for the sake of a dream that’s been put on hold… Again… I need to know you’re still okay with it, especially with how you’ve been struggling lately. Don’t think I don’t know you’ve been sleeping like shit either. Jack told me you fell asleep watching the S movie with him, so I know something’s bothering you. I know you’re better than what you’ve been showing in the ring so what’s wrong, Rini?”
Rini bit her lip. She couldn’t tell Charlie about the weird dreams she kept having… But how could she explain that she felt like she’d lost something by trying to ignore the dreams?
“It’s fine, Maasu… Really… Just some family drama…” Rini would’ve left it at that, but the look Charlie was giving her spoke volumes of disbelief and scepticism. “Haha’s family is mostly with me now, so she’s been feeling more pressure… Chichi’s family still won’t speak to me.”
Charlie still didn’t look like she believed Rini’s explanation, but she sighed, letting it go. “Just… Promise me, Muun… Promise you’ll say something if you want East Wind?”
It was an easy promise to make. “Of course, Maasu. I will.”
She was beat up, upset and worst of all she’d lost in one of the worst ways she could think of, a handful of tights and feet on the ropes. Even as she watched back the replay she was astonished at how the ref had missed it, but what was she gonna do? Storm up to Verona and hit him with a forearm?
Tempting.
Another almost but not quite on the records as well, impressive as her win and loss streak was, it was starting to niggle at her.
That slighter nastier part of her was calling to maybe just maybe lay a chairshot in on Serenity.
Yeah that wasn't going to work either.
So what was the answer?
She shook it loose as she rubbed at her eyes and stared at the ceiling of the aircraft, she looked to her right, watching Japan finally start to disappear away as she let her thoughts ruminate on everything the last three months had brought her, brought her freinds.
Success, something in the middle and… poor Rini.
Any of her own failures and successes were forgotten in the spin and rolling growl of the airline engine. Somewhere her eyes dropped closed.
She needs your help, kumo.
Nat jerked her eyes open to the rising sun as they were starting to land looking about eyes catching the sleeping form of Rini in her seat.
What the fuck was that all about?
Nat’s mind was occupied by the new voice even as she was going through Checking it was only at Baggage Claim that she moved up behind Rini and spoke with a smile.
“You look like you need a hug.”
Rini’s noncommittal shrug said it all, and so Nat threw her arms about the smaller woman’s waist and she said.
“Nope, getting hugged.”
Rini couldn't resist for much longer; she'd go back to giggling as she shifted and said in soft embarrassment.
“Uranusu.”
Nat shook her head.
“Hush I'm sorry I’ve not been too present recently, ok? I just…You have things you need to figure out and I don’t wanna be too pushy.”
Nat and Rini come into focus, the pair of them a little more subdued Nat still smiles as she leans her head on Rini’s shoulder and offers her a little Fist Bump, Rini returns the fist bump and Nat nods to the camera.
“So, my week could have gone better.”
Rini nods in agreement as they sit together, looking at the camera.
“Hai.”
Nat nudges Rini a little bit and lets loose a small grin.
“We’ve got the Winstons this week, a new country, a new tour cheering crowds and a chance to maybe get a small clean slate? You get to work with me again?”
Another nudge as Nat’s mood seems to slowly be returning already on camera, which seems to cheer Rini up, which seems to cheer Nat up in a weird energy feedback loop as Nat claps her hands with a bright grin to smile and stand up to point at the camera.
“You think losing to Serenity in a BS way is going to get me down? Hell no! My ticket might be punched but anyone who has eyes saw the wedgie she was giving any deeper and it would have been a little too spicy for tv. I made a promise, Rennie, getting cute on social media makes you look like a sore winner.”
Nat “fires” a pair of finger guns and makes a gesture of holstering them after blowing the barrels.
“It is a shame that Gretchen and Dixie will get lost in this match. We and the supposed Best Friends Forever will clearly be the focus of this fight, even if the listing is for a triple threat.”
Nat nods in agreement, once again coming to life with animated talk.
“Doesn’t mean we should take our eyes off them. The murder birds and us might very well be a focus and by that shouldn’t mean we shouldn’t give the Winstons their due. But we’ll circle back to the Winston family by looking at the revenge party willingly distracting themselves. Not spreading your net too thin are you ladies? Between the Harper mess and Shea ‘inconsistent motives’ O’Hara, are the BFF really into this?”
There’s a small nod as the pair hit a quick trade of high fives and Nat nods once more towards the camera.
“Even if they are, Uranusu, there is still a lack of inherent trust between them. They may say they are the best of friends, but can they really be after what O’Hara has said before about The Murder? Can Daniels ignore what O’Hara is willing to do to her supposed friends and allies? It shall always be a nagging doubt in Daniels’ thoughts. I know it would be in my mind.”
Nat takes another ‘tag’ form Rini as they seem to turn trading promo lines into a small game for the camera.
“You can trust O’Hara to be O’Hara and O’Hara always comes first, right? Least in my experience, that’s what I figure. She can dress it up as longtime friendships, but the end of Legacy said everything; she’s got a loyalty to the spotlight… Nothin’ else, like a certain somebody else I know.”
Tag, Rini’s it. The young Japanese woman remains sober as she speaks about the best friends forever.
“Daniels-san… Appreciate that we are only doing what you yourself have done; seeking justice to right a wrong done… Not to us, but to our most beloved friend. I will never forgive O’Hara for betraying Maasu, and she will harvest the fruits of her actions.”
Tag again, Nat approaching the camera to seemingly talk directly into the camera.
“Trust me Shea, the fruit is as bitter as the rest of you. Viv and yourself might be living legends. You might have done and seen it all but we’re not afraid. I know the perception of us, hell the perception of the rest of the women’s roster that isn’t you…”
This time the tag doesn't happen as the pair are in a strange sync, picking up invisible cues from the other; Rini mirroring the motion of Nat as Nat returns to her starting position.
“That we are the weak ones, little better than those who come in from the Training Center; that we only shine because of Maasu… But you are wrong. Uranusu and I may not be as strong as Maasu on our own, but we all make each other better… Right now, it is Maasu pulling us up behind her… Someday, it will be Uranusu… And yes, even me, however far off that might seem today… But for now, we two together, we are more than the sum of our strengths.”
“Strength has nothing to do with it, never has, we’re going into Albuquerque. No left turn and buzzing to butt heads with all comers. The feeling doesn’t change for me;, I’m excited, I'm hyped. I might be coming off a loss but our spirits or not dampened in any way… Our trust? Is unshaken, and well, We might just have some surprises up our sleeves ourselves.”
“Those who underestimate the power of love are destined to failure.”
Rini raises one hand up to her face, winking as she forms a peace sign by her eye. In shot and quietly one of Nat’s hands slides up and takes one of Rini’s as Nat spoke giving the hand a squeeze.
“And I see the IWF isn’t done underestimating what we’re capable of just yet, so hold onto your butts BFF ‘cause we’re comin’ for ya and we won’t so easily be denied.”
Rini seems to forget it’s her turn to speak for a moment, staring at their joined hands with a small smile and a slight blush. Finally, she shakes herself and returns to the subject at hand.
“Gretchen-san, Dixie-san… We apologize in advance. We do respect you and the rest of your family, but this is our first chance since Rome to collect what O’Hara owes us. We won’t ignore you in favor of O’Hara or Daniels, but you are not our enemies.”
Nat nods in agreement and smiles brightly.
“It’s true girls. You’re hella competitors but we need to earn a little scratch back on our terms, compared that Business is business. So I’m asking you girls, politely, to not get in our way, otherwise, we’ll put you down to do what we gotta, no offense.”
Nat seems to encourage Rini to speak again, squeezing her hand a bit more.
“Uranusu is right, we will not hesitate to face you. We may not wish to, we may not like to but you are more than just fodder to the whims of the Best Friends. Fodder to the storm you have been placed in the centre of. We ask you Winstons, stay safe. Danger is coming and we are set to face it with bright hearts and strong spirits.”
Nat smiles and points at the camera.
“That’s why at Albuquerque, when all is said and done, the IWF faithful will cheer our names. That roof is going to come off and you’ll see, we are more than the sum of our parts and we cannot lose.”
Another bright little grin and a wink towards the camera.
“See you soon ladies.”
“Sayonara!”
Fade out.
Tempting.
Another almost but not quite on the records as well, impressive as her win and loss streak was, it was starting to niggle at her.
That slighter nastier part of her was calling to maybe just maybe lay a chairshot in on Serenity.
Yeah that wasn't going to work either.
So what was the answer?
She shook it loose as she rubbed at her eyes and stared at the ceiling of the aircraft, she looked to her right, watching Japan finally start to disappear away as she let her thoughts ruminate on everything the last three months had brought her, brought her freinds.
Success, something in the middle and… poor Rini.
Any of her own failures and successes were forgotten in the spin and rolling growl of the airline engine. Somewhere her eyes dropped closed.
She needs your help, kumo.
Nat jerked her eyes open to the rising sun as they were starting to land looking about eyes catching the sleeping form of Rini in her seat.
What the fuck was that all about?
Nat’s mind was occupied by the new voice even as she was going through Checking it was only at Baggage Claim that she moved up behind Rini and spoke with a smile.
“You look like you need a hug.”
Rini’s noncommittal shrug said it all, and so Nat threw her arms about the smaller woman’s waist and she said.
“Nope, getting hugged.”
Rini couldn't resist for much longer; she'd go back to giggling as she shifted and said in soft embarrassment.
“Uranusu.”
Nat shook her head.
“Hush I'm sorry I’ve not been too present recently, ok? I just…You have things you need to figure out and I don’t wanna be too pushy.”
Nat and Rini come into focus, the pair of them a little more subdued Nat still smiles as she leans her head on Rini’s shoulder and offers her a little Fist Bump, Rini returns the fist bump and Nat nods to the camera.
“So, my week could have gone better.”
Rini nods in agreement as they sit together, looking at the camera.
“Hai.”
Nat nudges Rini a little bit and lets loose a small grin.
“We’ve got the Winstons this week, a new country, a new tour cheering crowds and a chance to maybe get a small clean slate? You get to work with me again?”
Another nudge as Nat’s mood seems to slowly be returning already on camera, which seems to cheer Rini up, which seems to cheer Nat up in a weird energy feedback loop as Nat claps her hands with a bright grin to smile and stand up to point at the camera.
“You think losing to Serenity in a BS way is going to get me down? Hell no! My ticket might be punched but anyone who has eyes saw the wedgie she was giving any deeper and it would have been a little too spicy for tv. I made a promise, Rennie, getting cute on social media makes you look like a sore winner.”
Nat “fires” a pair of finger guns and makes a gesture of holstering them after blowing the barrels.
“It is a shame that Gretchen and Dixie will get lost in this match. We and the supposed Best Friends Forever will clearly be the focus of this fight, even if the listing is for a triple threat.”
Nat nods in agreement, once again coming to life with animated talk.
“Doesn’t mean we should take our eyes off them. The murder birds and us might very well be a focus and by that shouldn’t mean we shouldn’t give the Winstons their due. But we’ll circle back to the Winston family by looking at the revenge party willingly distracting themselves. Not spreading your net too thin are you ladies? Between the Harper mess and Shea ‘inconsistent motives’ O’Hara, are the BFF really into this?”
There’s a small nod as the pair hit a quick trade of high fives and Nat nods once more towards the camera.
“Even if they are, Uranusu, there is still a lack of inherent trust between them. They may say they are the best of friends, but can they really be after what O’Hara has said before about The Murder? Can Daniels ignore what O’Hara is willing to do to her supposed friends and allies? It shall always be a nagging doubt in Daniels’ thoughts. I know it would be in my mind.”
Nat takes another ‘tag’ form Rini as they seem to turn trading promo lines into a small game for the camera.
“You can trust O’Hara to be O’Hara and O’Hara always comes first, right? Least in my experience, that’s what I figure. She can dress it up as longtime friendships, but the end of Legacy said everything; she’s got a loyalty to the spotlight… Nothin’ else, like a certain somebody else I know.”
Tag, Rini’s it. The young Japanese woman remains sober as she speaks about the best friends forever.
“Daniels-san… Appreciate that we are only doing what you yourself have done; seeking justice to right a wrong done… Not to us, but to our most beloved friend. I will never forgive O’Hara for betraying Maasu, and she will harvest the fruits of her actions.”
Tag again, Nat approaching the camera to seemingly talk directly into the camera.
“Trust me Shea, the fruit is as bitter as the rest of you. Viv and yourself might be living legends. You might have done and seen it all but we’re not afraid. I know the perception of us, hell the perception of the rest of the women’s roster that isn’t you…”
This time the tag doesn't happen as the pair are in a strange sync, picking up invisible cues from the other; Rini mirroring the motion of Nat as Nat returns to her starting position.
“That we are the weak ones, little better than those who come in from the Training Center; that we only shine because of Maasu… But you are wrong. Uranusu and I may not be as strong as Maasu on our own, but we all make each other better… Right now, it is Maasu pulling us up behind her… Someday, it will be Uranusu… And yes, even me, however far off that might seem today… But for now, we two together, we are more than the sum of our strengths.”
“Strength has nothing to do with it, never has, we’re going into Albuquerque. No left turn and buzzing to butt heads with all comers. The feeling doesn’t change for me;, I’m excited, I'm hyped. I might be coming off a loss but our spirits or not dampened in any way… Our trust? Is unshaken, and well, We might just have some surprises up our sleeves ourselves.”
“Those who underestimate the power of love are destined to failure.”
Rini raises one hand up to her face, winking as she forms a peace sign by her eye. In shot and quietly one of Nat’s hands slides up and takes one of Rini’s as Nat spoke giving the hand a squeeze.
“And I see the IWF isn’t done underestimating what we’re capable of just yet, so hold onto your butts BFF ‘cause we’re comin’ for ya and we won’t so easily be denied.”
Rini seems to forget it’s her turn to speak for a moment, staring at their joined hands with a small smile and a slight blush. Finally, she shakes herself and returns to the subject at hand.
“Gretchen-san, Dixie-san… We apologize in advance. We do respect you and the rest of your family, but this is our first chance since Rome to collect what O’Hara owes us. We won’t ignore you in favor of O’Hara or Daniels, but you are not our enemies.”
Nat nods in agreement and smiles brightly.
“It’s true girls. You’re hella competitors but we need to earn a little scratch back on our terms, compared that Business is business. So I’m asking you girls, politely, to not get in our way, otherwise, we’ll put you down to do what we gotta, no offense.”
Nat seems to encourage Rini to speak again, squeezing her hand a bit more.
“Uranusu is right, we will not hesitate to face you. We may not wish to, we may not like to but you are more than just fodder to the whims of the Best Friends. Fodder to the storm you have been placed in the centre of. We ask you Winstons, stay safe. Danger is coming and we are set to face it with bright hearts and strong spirits.”
Nat smiles and points at the camera.
“That’s why at Albuquerque, when all is said and done, the IWF faithful will cheer our names. That roof is going to come off and you’ll see, we are more than the sum of our parts and we cannot lose.”
Another bright little grin and a wink towards the camera.
“See you soon ladies.”
“Sayonara!”
Fade out.
Well howdy there pardner.