Post by Ace King on Oct 22, 2021 13:07:24 GMT -6
(Writer's Note: This is a collaboration between myself and "La Belicista" Isabella.)
October 6, 2021
Arena Monterrey
Monterrey, Mexico
9:51 p.m. CST
Effectively drowning out the sounds of the final few fans before disappearing behind the curtain, Undisputed Champion Ace King slowly trundles through the backstage area of the Arena Monterrey.
The disappointment over his Paramount 12 loss to Marcu$ $t. John is evident on his face, particularly that it had to happen here, of all places.
However, as he sits in his locker room changing out of his gear and into his street clothes, the words of his late trainer, Jose Lothario, run through his brain.
“Ser profesional… Ser uno mismo,” the memory states, “Being a professional is the most important thing you can be in this business, above all else.”
A small sense of pride comes across Ace’s face as he stands and heads for the room where he told El Pablo he’d meet him to watch the Southern Express matchup. However, as he gets into the hallway, a foreign hand taps him on the shoulder gently.
“Lisa, I don’t think this is the be-” Ace says as he turns around slowly, perhaps expecting to see Paramount interviewer Lisa Goldrush. However, his expression quickly turns to surprise when instead, he finds himself face-to-face with a man he only knew to be Alejandro De La Rosa from watching previous Paramount episodes.
“Oh, sorry about that,” the Undisputed Champion states meekly as he casually sizes up Alejandro, though he recognizes him as not presenting a threat.
Alejandro took a moment to regain his composure and breath. He straightened himself, let out a breath, then gave a polite nod to the Undisputed Champion. Thankfully, Ace wouldn’t need to wait long for an explanation, as Alejandro knew exactly what he wanted to say; or, as he would quickly find out, ask.
“I’m just gonna cut to the chase, if you don’t mind. Isabella … she’s disheartened. To the point of …”
Alejandro gripped his lower lip, remembering the day he’d found her barely alive, attempting to take her own life with sleeping pills and alcohol.
“And I don’t want her to go back down that path. While I’m good at reading people, knowing how to do so, particularly with this industry is a very different story. You have a school if I’ve heard correctly? Would you take Isabella in?”
The Undisputed Champion is slightly taken aback by the question, perhaps not anticipating Alejandro’s straightforward nature, though he appreciated it all the same.
“I do, indeed,” Ace acknowledges, perhaps still a bit stunned by what he’s just heard. “She’s definitely a tough cookie, from what I’ve seen, but perhaps just getting a rude awakening of what this business can be… She definitely has something there, but if I understand correctly, this seems to be about more than just wrestling, is that fair?”
Ace again surveys Alejandro, perhaps already knowing the answer to the question, for it’s something he’d experienced to a degree in his younger years himself.
“I suppose it is, yes. She hasn’t told me everything, but I do think I have a decent idea on what one of her biggest struggles is. And it’s where you come in. Military versus actual wrestling. Living and training in Japan definitely helped her out greatly. That much is clear. But she needs to be able to separate her military self from the one that should be stepping into the ring.”
Alejandro pauses, gathers his thoughts, then further elaborates, “I’m not saying she shouldn’t be aggressive, especially in X-Division fights. But going in with the mindset of someone who had to kill people on sight?”
His head shakes, “I think that’s but one thing she’s not balancing as well as she could be. And then, even if this one may sound a bit ironic, her discipline could probably use a bit of work too.”
Ace simply nods along, trying to take in everything Alejandro’s saying, showing empathy throughout. He remains quiet for a few extra seconds after Alejandro stops talking, then slightly arches an eyebrow.
“Let’s find somewhere a bit quieter to chat,” he says, guiding Alejandro toward a nearby empty room. The Undisputed Champion shuts the door behind Alejandro, then grabs a couple plastic chairs for the two men to sit down. After a more lingering silence, Ace clears his throat.
“Normally, I would probably have turned down the application by now, because there are a lot of people who want in at a given time,” Ace acknowledges while Alejandro remains stoic. “However…”
Alejandro nods, barely hiding a ghost of a smirk starting to appear on his lips as the ‘however’ is uttered.
“...I also know the value of having direction,” Ace continues, turning his gaze wistfully to the west. “You know I was trained in this very city, right?”
“Indeed,” Alejandro replied, “I have heard it a few times in some of your past promos.”
The Undisputed Champion acknowledges the response with a gentle nod, setting his precious gold to the side to address Alejandro on a more personal level.
“At any rate, it wasn’t just wrestling that I learned here all those years,” Ace acknowledges. “While I can’t claim to have shared experiences before entering this business, I can understand the basic concepts of what she might be going through: Possible identity crisis, unsure of whether she belongs… I get it.”
Ace’s last words are in a more hushed tone as he thinks back to some of his younger days.
“This place did help give me direction,” he confesses. “But I learned something else here, too: When you’re from here, there’s a certain work ethic and dedication that comes with it, only ever wanting the best for themselves. There’s a fire to people from here, the kind of pasión that can’t be taught… Belicista might not see it now, but if she wants it, she has it.”
“Truthfully, she doesn’t know I’m here. Her back is getting stitched up. I just knew if I didn’t try to figure something out, she’d likely revert to her old habits. Even still, I can say this much from a manager’s point of view; I definitely see the same pasión also. It’s largely because of that trait that allowed me to take her in the first place. But from how long I’ve known her, I do feel pretty certain she does want it. She’s had her chances to storm out again, but hasn’t this time. That’s not a fluke, that's a desire to improve.”
Ace listens thoughtfully to what Alejandro’s saying, to the point of ignoring the vibrating phone in his pocket as he continues to focus on his current conversation. The Undisputed Champion casually pulls at his sweat-laden t-shirt to loosen it up, then turns his gaze squarely back to Alejandro.
“Everything you’ve said is valid,” the Undisputed Champion acknowledges, scratching at some of the stubble on his chin. “There’s one other thing this might give her, though.”
“And what would that be?” Alejandro questions, his interest piqued. Ace slightly raises an eyebrow before answering “...Fulfillment.”
Alejandro appears slightly confused by what Ace is saying, though the wheels are clearly turning in the Undisputed Champion’s head.
“As much as she could get from being there to train, I know there are a few there who could learn from her,” Ace continues. “In a way, what she brings to the table… Being in that environment… She could become a leader there. Not necessarily as a trainer, but among her peers, she can earn her stripes, so to speak. Who knows? Maybe that’s something she’s missed since starting in the business.”
“Quizás. Definitivamente es una posibilidad,” Alejandro muses, nodding over the thought. “She has told me some nights that the military life felt a bit easier, so there certainly might be some truth in your own guess. We’ll find out when she joins, I suppose. For now, just knowing you’d be fine helping her is a great start.”
Alejandro bows his head politely, then extends his hand out, “We can work on figuring out when exactly she can come in over the phone or through email, perhaps? I doubt they’ll be working on her too much longer, and I don’t want her thinking I’ve up and left her or anything.”
“Right, that makes sense,” the Undisputed Champion acknowledges. “Those lines of communication seem logical to me, for now. At least keep a dialogue going, then perhaps reconvene in New York when everyone is there?”
“True. The season finales are always in New York, huh? That sounds perfect to me.” Alejandro grinned, feeling relieved at the arrangements he just made before giving The Gambler one last nod, before proceeding to exit the room. The Undisputed Champion lingers in the room for a moment, perhaps still processing what’s just went down, then nods before picking up his championship and exiting the room himself, feeling a bit better than he had just moments before.
October 6, 2021
Arena Monterrey
Monterrey, Mexico
9:51 p.m. CST
Effectively drowning out the sounds of the final few fans before disappearing behind the curtain, Undisputed Champion Ace King slowly trundles through the backstage area of the Arena Monterrey.
The disappointment over his Paramount 12 loss to Marcu$ $t. John is evident on his face, particularly that it had to happen here, of all places.
However, as he sits in his locker room changing out of his gear and into his street clothes, the words of his late trainer, Jose Lothario, run through his brain.
“Ser profesional… Ser uno mismo,” the memory states, “Being a professional is the most important thing you can be in this business, above all else.”
A small sense of pride comes across Ace’s face as he stands and heads for the room where he told El Pablo he’d meet him to watch the Southern Express matchup. However, as he gets into the hallway, a foreign hand taps him on the shoulder gently.
“Lisa, I don’t think this is the be-” Ace says as he turns around slowly, perhaps expecting to see Paramount interviewer Lisa Goldrush. However, his expression quickly turns to surprise when instead, he finds himself face-to-face with a man he only knew to be Alejandro De La Rosa from watching previous Paramount episodes.
“Oh, sorry about that,” the Undisputed Champion states meekly as he casually sizes up Alejandro, though he recognizes him as not presenting a threat.
Alejandro took a moment to regain his composure and breath. He straightened himself, let out a breath, then gave a polite nod to the Undisputed Champion. Thankfully, Ace wouldn’t need to wait long for an explanation, as Alejandro knew exactly what he wanted to say; or, as he would quickly find out, ask.
“I’m just gonna cut to the chase, if you don’t mind. Isabella … she’s disheartened. To the point of …”
Alejandro gripped his lower lip, remembering the day he’d found her barely alive, attempting to take her own life with sleeping pills and alcohol.
“And I don’t want her to go back down that path. While I’m good at reading people, knowing how to do so, particularly with this industry is a very different story. You have a school if I’ve heard correctly? Would you take Isabella in?”
The Undisputed Champion is slightly taken aback by the question, perhaps not anticipating Alejandro’s straightforward nature, though he appreciated it all the same.
“I do, indeed,” Ace acknowledges, perhaps still a bit stunned by what he’s just heard. “She’s definitely a tough cookie, from what I’ve seen, but perhaps just getting a rude awakening of what this business can be… She definitely has something there, but if I understand correctly, this seems to be about more than just wrestling, is that fair?”
Ace again surveys Alejandro, perhaps already knowing the answer to the question, for it’s something he’d experienced to a degree in his younger years himself.
“I suppose it is, yes. She hasn’t told me everything, but I do think I have a decent idea on what one of her biggest struggles is. And it’s where you come in. Military versus actual wrestling. Living and training in Japan definitely helped her out greatly. That much is clear. But she needs to be able to separate her military self from the one that should be stepping into the ring.”
Alejandro pauses, gathers his thoughts, then further elaborates, “I’m not saying she shouldn’t be aggressive, especially in X-Division fights. But going in with the mindset of someone who had to kill people on sight?”
His head shakes, “I think that’s but one thing she’s not balancing as well as she could be. And then, even if this one may sound a bit ironic, her discipline could probably use a bit of work too.”
Ace simply nods along, trying to take in everything Alejandro’s saying, showing empathy throughout. He remains quiet for a few extra seconds after Alejandro stops talking, then slightly arches an eyebrow.
“Let’s find somewhere a bit quieter to chat,” he says, guiding Alejandro toward a nearby empty room. The Undisputed Champion shuts the door behind Alejandro, then grabs a couple plastic chairs for the two men to sit down. After a more lingering silence, Ace clears his throat.
“Normally, I would probably have turned down the application by now, because there are a lot of people who want in at a given time,” Ace acknowledges while Alejandro remains stoic. “However…”
Alejandro nods, barely hiding a ghost of a smirk starting to appear on his lips as the ‘however’ is uttered.
“...I also know the value of having direction,” Ace continues, turning his gaze wistfully to the west. “You know I was trained in this very city, right?”
“Indeed,” Alejandro replied, “I have heard it a few times in some of your past promos.”
The Undisputed Champion acknowledges the response with a gentle nod, setting his precious gold to the side to address Alejandro on a more personal level.
“At any rate, it wasn’t just wrestling that I learned here all those years,” Ace acknowledges. “While I can’t claim to have shared experiences before entering this business, I can understand the basic concepts of what she might be going through: Possible identity crisis, unsure of whether she belongs… I get it.”
Ace’s last words are in a more hushed tone as he thinks back to some of his younger days.
“This place did help give me direction,” he confesses. “But I learned something else here, too: When you’re from here, there’s a certain work ethic and dedication that comes with it, only ever wanting the best for themselves. There’s a fire to people from here, the kind of pasión that can’t be taught… Belicista might not see it now, but if she wants it, she has it.”
“Truthfully, she doesn’t know I’m here. Her back is getting stitched up. I just knew if I didn’t try to figure something out, she’d likely revert to her old habits. Even still, I can say this much from a manager’s point of view; I definitely see the same pasión also. It’s largely because of that trait that allowed me to take her in the first place. But from how long I’ve known her, I do feel pretty certain she does want it. She’s had her chances to storm out again, but hasn’t this time. That’s not a fluke, that's a desire to improve.”
Ace listens thoughtfully to what Alejandro’s saying, to the point of ignoring the vibrating phone in his pocket as he continues to focus on his current conversation. The Undisputed Champion casually pulls at his sweat-laden t-shirt to loosen it up, then turns his gaze squarely back to Alejandro.
“Everything you’ve said is valid,” the Undisputed Champion acknowledges, scratching at some of the stubble on his chin. “There’s one other thing this might give her, though.”
“And what would that be?” Alejandro questions, his interest piqued. Ace slightly raises an eyebrow before answering “...Fulfillment.”
Alejandro appears slightly confused by what Ace is saying, though the wheels are clearly turning in the Undisputed Champion’s head.
“As much as she could get from being there to train, I know there are a few there who could learn from her,” Ace continues. “In a way, what she brings to the table… Being in that environment… She could become a leader there. Not necessarily as a trainer, but among her peers, she can earn her stripes, so to speak. Who knows? Maybe that’s something she’s missed since starting in the business.”
“Quizás. Definitivamente es una posibilidad,” Alejandro muses, nodding over the thought. “She has told me some nights that the military life felt a bit easier, so there certainly might be some truth in your own guess. We’ll find out when she joins, I suppose. For now, just knowing you’d be fine helping her is a great start.”
Alejandro bows his head politely, then extends his hand out, “We can work on figuring out when exactly she can come in over the phone or through email, perhaps? I doubt they’ll be working on her too much longer, and I don’t want her thinking I’ve up and left her or anything.”
“Right, that makes sense,” the Undisputed Champion acknowledges. “Those lines of communication seem logical to me, for now. At least keep a dialogue going, then perhaps reconvene in New York when everyone is there?”
“True. The season finales are always in New York, huh? That sounds perfect to me.” Alejandro grinned, feeling relieved at the arrangements he just made before giving The Gambler one last nod, before proceeding to exit the room. The Undisputed Champion lingers in the room for a moment, perhaps still processing what’s just went down, then nods before picking up his championship and exiting the room himself, feeling a bit better than he had just moments before.