Post by Skyler Striker on Jan 24, 2007 19:30:23 GMT -5
“Make a legacy, then retire champions.”
-Serena Williams
The scene begins inside a large hall on the harbour of Sydney, Australia. Inside the hall, in one room, a classical concert is being performed. The music is one of Mozart’s many symphonies. The audience is full of well-dressed men and women, and the calm, romantic music even brings tears to some eyes of the people. The music ascends and descends through the octaves beautifully, and as the concert draws to a close, every single member of the audience stands and applaud for the orchestra in a show of respect. Among the audience is Skyler Striker, dressed, of all things, in a very neat and tidy black tuxedo. Jade is not with him, as usual, as she is with Thunder back in America. Skyler, however, has travelled to Australia for a week of preparation in a way only he knows how. The hall slowly empties but Skyler stays back, sitting in his seat, going through the symphony in his mind. The cleaners are not in yet, as the symphony is still packing up onstage, but Skyler, being in the upper echelons of the hall, cannot be heard. His voice is calm, relaxed, different than the usual, although, Skyler being Skyler, he has his sunglasses on his head, although not over his eyes. Without his contacts in, Skyler’s eyes are revealed in their true colour – a deep, mystical blue which seems to penetrate your mind.
SS: It’s curious. I never liked Mozart. I still don’t. The symphony I just listened to has many points he could have improved on. Not one of his more spectacular pieces. But nonetheless, I can relate not necessarily to the music, but to the events at the end of the symphony. The symphony ends. We clap. Why? We applaud these people because for some reason, humanity has decreed that clapping our hands together to make a certain noise is a sign of respect towards whatever it is we are applauding. Now, while Mozart was never my favourite musical artist – far from it – I know enough to realise he was a musical genius, and deserves respect from anyone who has listened to his music. Hence why I applaud at the end of the symphony.
[[Flashback]]
Someone from ringside tosses Vice a mic as he holds Striker up by holding Striker’s arm over his neck. Vice makes sure Striker is stable and begins to speak, a hint of weariness in his voice.
Danny Vice: Yeah, that’s right. The Vagrant and the Fury Crusader are on the same page. We’re not a team, there’s still too much between us for that. But we are no longer enemies, we’re making that clear. The respect we have was too great to let this continue. Yes, I do still hold my contract to face Skyler again. But I’ll save that for a day when it’s needed. Like when Skyler gets his hands on that Hardcore Title. Until then, though, Skyler, you’re safe.
Vice drops the mic and Skyler nods, letting Vice release his arm. Vice leaves the ring and walks through the entrance curtain, leaving Striker alone in the ring. The crowd cheer wildly for what they have just witnessed, and Striker smiles before passing out in the middle of the ring. The medics come and take Skyler away on a stretcher, the crowd applauding him the whole way to the back.
[[Reality]]
SS: They applauded Danny Vice out of respect because he respected me. Of course, that fell apart. He dropped me as soon as I had the Hardcore Title in my possession. And then they did another thing. They booed Danny Vice out of the building out of disrespect. Once again, human nature decrees that booing someone shows your disrespect for them. And so they showed their disrespect. Maybe that’s part of the difference between me and Vice – respect. Danny has claimed so many times that he fights for the people, to eradicate me – the scum of the WCF – from the face of the earth. And yet, he, for some reason, has not managed it yet. The only reason I could think for this is that his purpose isn’t right. He’s not doing it for the right motive. And yet he ignores the signs from the people whom he supposedly supports. He can claim that the people don’t know what they want, but that’s not for him to decide, is it?
Skyler takes a deep breath and rubs a hand through his hair, refreshing himself, still trying to mentally divulge why his mind is going through all of these thoughts.
SS: So if Vice’s motives are wrong, as declared by the people, then my motives must be correct, as declared by the people. My motive.. my motive is to fight with the people. Not for them, with them. Which means I’m doing the right thing.
Down on stage, two members of the cello group remains behind for a brief practice. They begin performing a cover of ‘Fade To Black’, very skilfully, and Skyler listens intently as they perform the song to their giant stringed instruments. Finally they finish, and Skyler, who was not able to be seen before, stands and claps, the lone member of the crowd left. The cello players, who were not aware of Skyler’s presence, look up to see him clapping with a smile on his face. They grin and thank him before starting another number by Metallica, this time ‘Enter Sandman’. Skyler stands and begins walking downstairs.
SS: Innovative. I must get to Jade about performing with cellos.
Skyler reaches the stage and listens to the haunting sounds of the cellos playing ‘Enter Sandman’. They finally finish and Skyler opens his eyes, nodding to himself.
SS: What would you two gentlemen say if I said that I respected you?
The two young men onstage laugh briefly before realising Skyler is one hundred percent serious. They think about it briefly before one of the two replies.
Man #1: Well, I’d say thankyou, most likely, and then ask why you would say such a thing. Not many people say that these days.
SS: Good answer. I would then reply with my reason, which is that you two are trying something innovative. True, orchestra with rock has been done before, but to have two of you perform Fade to Black is very skilful indeed. How old are you?
Man #1: 24.
Man #2: 27.
SS: Very impressive. Well, I do have somewhere to go, but I must express my appreciation and respect for your musical playing abilities once more, so…
Skyler claps for a few seconds before departing the hall. The two men look at each other, slightly confused, but the first man gets it and smiles to himself as Skyler leaves. Skyler himself walks through the halls back to the foyer, thinking to himself.
SS: And yet in all of this, among this great battle of respect, I still respect Danny beyond all measure. Without his attack on me all those months ago, I would not be hardcore champion. Without Danny, I would have been lost in the world of the WCF, and he would have been the same without me.
Skyler arrives in the lobby and sees a small TV screen in the corner of his eye. The TV is showing an advert for WCF One, and it finishes with the words ‘WCF One – featuring Logan vs. Jack of Blades, Skyler Striker vs. Danny Vice, Thunder vs. J.J. Biggs and a live performance of ‘One’ by Metallica!’. Skyler grins to himself and leaves the building, entering onto the steps of the Sydney Opera House and glancing out at Sydney Harbour.
SS: Like the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge – if only one was there, that Australians would see the picture as only half-completed. They’re part of one another. And I respect Danny Vice for being my greatest competitor. In a battle of respect, I would win, 1-0. But then respect can’t be all this is about.
Skyler spies a souvenir stand and goes to look at the postcards. One shows the ‘seven modern wonders’, one of which is the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and another of which is the Eiffel Tower.
SS: I need to go to France.
“Respect a man, he will do the more.”
-James Howell
-Serena Williams
The scene begins inside a large hall on the harbour of Sydney, Australia. Inside the hall, in one room, a classical concert is being performed. The music is one of Mozart’s many symphonies. The audience is full of well-dressed men and women, and the calm, romantic music even brings tears to some eyes of the people. The music ascends and descends through the octaves beautifully, and as the concert draws to a close, every single member of the audience stands and applaud for the orchestra in a show of respect. Among the audience is Skyler Striker, dressed, of all things, in a very neat and tidy black tuxedo. Jade is not with him, as usual, as she is with Thunder back in America. Skyler, however, has travelled to Australia for a week of preparation in a way only he knows how. The hall slowly empties but Skyler stays back, sitting in his seat, going through the symphony in his mind. The cleaners are not in yet, as the symphony is still packing up onstage, but Skyler, being in the upper echelons of the hall, cannot be heard. His voice is calm, relaxed, different than the usual, although, Skyler being Skyler, he has his sunglasses on his head, although not over his eyes. Without his contacts in, Skyler’s eyes are revealed in their true colour – a deep, mystical blue which seems to penetrate your mind.
SS: It’s curious. I never liked Mozart. I still don’t. The symphony I just listened to has many points he could have improved on. Not one of his more spectacular pieces. But nonetheless, I can relate not necessarily to the music, but to the events at the end of the symphony. The symphony ends. We clap. Why? We applaud these people because for some reason, humanity has decreed that clapping our hands together to make a certain noise is a sign of respect towards whatever it is we are applauding. Now, while Mozart was never my favourite musical artist – far from it – I know enough to realise he was a musical genius, and deserves respect from anyone who has listened to his music. Hence why I applaud at the end of the symphony.
[[Flashback]]
Someone from ringside tosses Vice a mic as he holds Striker up by holding Striker’s arm over his neck. Vice makes sure Striker is stable and begins to speak, a hint of weariness in his voice.
Danny Vice: Yeah, that’s right. The Vagrant and the Fury Crusader are on the same page. We’re not a team, there’s still too much between us for that. But we are no longer enemies, we’re making that clear. The respect we have was too great to let this continue. Yes, I do still hold my contract to face Skyler again. But I’ll save that for a day when it’s needed. Like when Skyler gets his hands on that Hardcore Title. Until then, though, Skyler, you’re safe.
Vice drops the mic and Skyler nods, letting Vice release his arm. Vice leaves the ring and walks through the entrance curtain, leaving Striker alone in the ring. The crowd cheer wildly for what they have just witnessed, and Striker smiles before passing out in the middle of the ring. The medics come and take Skyler away on a stretcher, the crowd applauding him the whole way to the back.
[[Reality]]
SS: They applauded Danny Vice out of respect because he respected me. Of course, that fell apart. He dropped me as soon as I had the Hardcore Title in my possession. And then they did another thing. They booed Danny Vice out of the building out of disrespect. Once again, human nature decrees that booing someone shows your disrespect for them. And so they showed their disrespect. Maybe that’s part of the difference between me and Vice – respect. Danny has claimed so many times that he fights for the people, to eradicate me – the scum of the WCF – from the face of the earth. And yet, he, for some reason, has not managed it yet. The only reason I could think for this is that his purpose isn’t right. He’s not doing it for the right motive. And yet he ignores the signs from the people whom he supposedly supports. He can claim that the people don’t know what they want, but that’s not for him to decide, is it?
Skyler takes a deep breath and rubs a hand through his hair, refreshing himself, still trying to mentally divulge why his mind is going through all of these thoughts.
SS: So if Vice’s motives are wrong, as declared by the people, then my motives must be correct, as declared by the people. My motive.. my motive is to fight with the people. Not for them, with them. Which means I’m doing the right thing.
Down on stage, two members of the cello group remains behind for a brief practice. They begin performing a cover of ‘Fade To Black’, very skilfully, and Skyler listens intently as they perform the song to their giant stringed instruments. Finally they finish, and Skyler, who was not able to be seen before, stands and claps, the lone member of the crowd left. The cello players, who were not aware of Skyler’s presence, look up to see him clapping with a smile on his face. They grin and thank him before starting another number by Metallica, this time ‘Enter Sandman’. Skyler stands and begins walking downstairs.
SS: Innovative. I must get to Jade about performing with cellos.
Skyler reaches the stage and listens to the haunting sounds of the cellos playing ‘Enter Sandman’. They finally finish and Skyler opens his eyes, nodding to himself.
SS: What would you two gentlemen say if I said that I respected you?
The two young men onstage laugh briefly before realising Skyler is one hundred percent serious. They think about it briefly before one of the two replies.
Man #1: Well, I’d say thankyou, most likely, and then ask why you would say such a thing. Not many people say that these days.
SS: Good answer. I would then reply with my reason, which is that you two are trying something innovative. True, orchestra with rock has been done before, but to have two of you perform Fade to Black is very skilful indeed. How old are you?
Man #1: 24.
Man #2: 27.
SS: Very impressive. Well, I do have somewhere to go, but I must express my appreciation and respect for your musical playing abilities once more, so…
Skyler claps for a few seconds before departing the hall. The two men look at each other, slightly confused, but the first man gets it and smiles to himself as Skyler leaves. Skyler himself walks through the halls back to the foyer, thinking to himself.
SS: And yet in all of this, among this great battle of respect, I still respect Danny beyond all measure. Without his attack on me all those months ago, I would not be hardcore champion. Without Danny, I would have been lost in the world of the WCF, and he would have been the same without me.
Skyler arrives in the lobby and sees a small TV screen in the corner of his eye. The TV is showing an advert for WCF One, and it finishes with the words ‘WCF One – featuring Logan vs. Jack of Blades, Skyler Striker vs. Danny Vice, Thunder vs. J.J. Biggs and a live performance of ‘One’ by Metallica!’. Skyler grins to himself and leaves the building, entering onto the steps of the Sydney Opera House and glancing out at Sydney Harbour.
SS: Like the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge – if only one was there, that Australians would see the picture as only half-completed. They’re part of one another. And I respect Danny Vice for being my greatest competitor. In a battle of respect, I would win, 1-0. But then respect can’t be all this is about.
Skyler spies a souvenir stand and goes to look at the postcards. One shows the ‘seven modern wonders’, one of which is the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and another of which is the Eiffel Tower.
SS: I need to go to France.
“Respect a man, he will do the more.”
-James Howell
