Post by Skyler Striker on Mar 14, 2007 4:08:28 GMT -5
Love. One of the few words that humankind still cannot truly define. There is no doubt we have tried before, but every time we fail. Love is an emotion and words are usually unable to describe it as it is often different for every person. Therefore, do not look here for a definition of love – you will not find it. You will, however, find an example – or what used to be one.
The night is getting cold in New York City. The skies are clear and there are no clouds in sight, the stars twinkling in the black night sky. The moon is at half-crescent, lighting up the top of one of the many skyscrapers in NYC. The only entrance to the open roof is a door which is currently closed. Two figures are at the top of this apartment building staring at the sky. The wind blows cold around the two figures as they wait. The first is Skyler Striker, standing and staring at the stars while he listens intently for something. Jade Striker sits in a folding chair, reading a novel with her book light on. Both have warm jumpers on yet still shiver. They wait like this for about twenty minutes before we are interrupted. Once again, the three-toned voice has seen fit to interfere – although it has changed slightly. The female tone is missing, leaving us with a deep masculine voice and another that cannot be described.
??: Prepare yourself, Skyler. She is coming.
Skyler rolls his eyes and stares up at the night sky, although the voice seems to come from every direction. His tone is tired and frustrated, but he answers regardless of how he feels towards the voice.
SS: Why do you need to tell me? Why don’t you leave me alone for a while? I’m getting tired of you not answering my questions. Just let me lead my own life! I know you’ve done plenty for me, but War is something I have to do alone.
??: Once you’ve met her again, you will understand about the time when I will leave you. But there are still other things for you to discover first. Good luck, Skyler.
The voice departs and Skyler rolls his eyes. Suddenly, the door to the roof opens and an absolutely amazing woman steps out. She has an aura about her that is graceful and mysterious at the same time. Her hair is blond with red streaks through it and her eyes are a very light blue. She wears a white collared shirt that goes to her midriff and a set of dark green jeans, with a pair of Converse All-Stars on her feet. Her arms are slender and smooth, and as she turns to Skyler, she looks absolutely shocked. The very air itself seems to stop moving as they look at each other for a few seconds, and then they rush to each other, Skyler almost crying with emotion for the woman he has missed for so long. Skyler lets go of his former lover and Jade shuts her book, putting it down onto the chair and leaving all reserve behind her, rushing to her mother’s arms. Shaneyah Phoenix hugs her daughter with tears rolling down her own face and Skyler joins them, the family finally back together. They release and Skyler is the first to speak.
SS: Shaneyah… how are you?
SP: Lonely... I missed you every day after you left. I…
As she speaks, Skyler recognises the voice. Shaneyah’s voice is the same female voice that comprised one third of the voice that has been interrupting Skyler lately. Skyler realises that this element was missing from the voice when it spoke not a few minutes ago and he interrupts Shaneyah on the spot.
SS: Wait – you were one piece of the voice?
SP: Sorry?
Everything freezes and the two-toned voice speaks again.
??: She remembers nothing. I simply stole the elements of her voice and used them as one third of mine, although it is no longer necessary for reasons you will not understand. I will return.
Once again, everything unfreezes and Skyler shakes his head.
SS: Nothing. Listen, I know this may sound hasty, but I want to ask you something. One of the biggest Pay-Per-Views of the year in the WCF is going on this weekend, and I want you to come and w-
SP: You’re still wrestling, Skyler? I thought you’d given up on it?
SS: No… who told you that?
SP: I just presumed that after you followed your silly wrestling dream that you’d come back to the real world.
SS: This is the real world! I am the WCF Hardcore Champion, this is what I do for a living!
SP: But why? You’re slowly killing yourself! I watched a ‘hardcore’ match once, and all they did was hit each other with chairs and then bleed.
SS: Everyone’s got their own style. Hardcore is mine.
Shaneyah turns away from Skyler and to the balcony, where she stares out over the city.
SP: Skyler, if we want to get back together, and I presume you want us to, I want you to do one thing for me.
SS: You want me to give up wrestling.
A long pause follows, the wind rushing over the building and blowing Shaneyah’s long, untied hair so it partially covers her face. She sighs and still not facing Skyler, replies.
SP: Yes.
SS: You can’t be serious. I have worked every single day of every year since I left to learn wrestling in America and now you want me to throw it away? I won’t do it.
SP: Then this is going to end as abruptly as it started.
SS: Fine.
SP: Fine? You’ll give up wrestling?
SS: No. Fine – this will end. Your voice may be haunting me in my every waking moment, but my love for wrestling surpasses most anything else save Jade.
SP: Then Jade, would you please tell your father to listen to me and give up wrestling?
Jade looks conflicted, but slowly moves to stand beside her father. Her stance is defiant and her eyes are blazing, although we can see a tear coming from one.
JS: I- I won’t do it. This is his life to lead, not mine.
SS: I’m sorry, Shaneyah, but what did you expect me to say? I love you, but I can live without you. Wrestling, however, I cannot.
Shaneyah begins crying, and then weeping, and without another word, she flees from the scene and from Skyler's life forever, running back through the door and slamming it on her way out. As soon as the door shuts, Skyler also begins crying, and he holds Jade close to him. The two cry silently in the night as the wind blows around them and eventually, Skyler stands, leaning on the balcony.
SS: You’re doing this, aren’t you? Is this some kind of cruel joke? To give me back the one thing I love and then rip it away just as quick?
The scene freezes everything save Skyler and the voice replies to Skyler’s shout yet even though Shaneyah is gone, it does not regain her voice.
??: This is a lesson that you must learn, Skyler. You have discovered something important tonight – that you cannot live without wrestling.
SS: I knew that before! Why rip the one I love away to tell me something I already know?!
??: Would you have admitted it before, Skyler?
Skyler does not answer this, simply standing still, as he knows the answer in his heart.
??: Then you have learned the lesson, Skyler. You are but a few steps away from War – three days, in fact. There are only a few things left that I must teach you. But they will wait until later. You want to be alone now, so I shall leave you. I will return tomorrow with your next lesson.
Skyler erupts with anger and yells at the frozen sky.
SS: WHY? What lessons?! Come on, Teacher? Teach me now and leave me alone! I’m sick of you interrupting, interfering, and playing around with my life as though you’re God himself!
??: You will find out who I am in due time, Skyler.
The voice leaves the scene for good and Skyler drops his head, collapsing to the floor, and as the scene unfreezes, Skyler sobs like a little child as Jade rushes over to him to comfort him. She holds his hand and rubs his back as the scene comes to a close, Skyler still sobbing on the cold concrete floor.
“Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win."
-Sun Tzu
The night is getting cold in New York City. The skies are clear and there are no clouds in sight, the stars twinkling in the black night sky. The moon is at half-crescent, lighting up the top of one of the many skyscrapers in NYC. The only entrance to the open roof is a door which is currently closed. Two figures are at the top of this apartment building staring at the sky. The wind blows cold around the two figures as they wait. The first is Skyler Striker, standing and staring at the stars while he listens intently for something. Jade Striker sits in a folding chair, reading a novel with her book light on. Both have warm jumpers on yet still shiver. They wait like this for about twenty minutes before we are interrupted. Once again, the three-toned voice has seen fit to interfere – although it has changed slightly. The female tone is missing, leaving us with a deep masculine voice and another that cannot be described.
??: Prepare yourself, Skyler. She is coming.
Skyler rolls his eyes and stares up at the night sky, although the voice seems to come from every direction. His tone is tired and frustrated, but he answers regardless of how he feels towards the voice.
SS: Why do you need to tell me? Why don’t you leave me alone for a while? I’m getting tired of you not answering my questions. Just let me lead my own life! I know you’ve done plenty for me, but War is something I have to do alone.
??: Once you’ve met her again, you will understand about the time when I will leave you. But there are still other things for you to discover first. Good luck, Skyler.
The voice departs and Skyler rolls his eyes. Suddenly, the door to the roof opens and an absolutely amazing woman steps out. She has an aura about her that is graceful and mysterious at the same time. Her hair is blond with red streaks through it and her eyes are a very light blue. She wears a white collared shirt that goes to her midriff and a set of dark green jeans, with a pair of Converse All-Stars on her feet. Her arms are slender and smooth, and as she turns to Skyler, she looks absolutely shocked. The very air itself seems to stop moving as they look at each other for a few seconds, and then they rush to each other, Skyler almost crying with emotion for the woman he has missed for so long. Skyler lets go of his former lover and Jade shuts her book, putting it down onto the chair and leaving all reserve behind her, rushing to her mother’s arms. Shaneyah Phoenix hugs her daughter with tears rolling down her own face and Skyler joins them, the family finally back together. They release and Skyler is the first to speak.
SS: Shaneyah… how are you?
SP: Lonely... I missed you every day after you left. I…
As she speaks, Skyler recognises the voice. Shaneyah’s voice is the same female voice that comprised one third of the voice that has been interrupting Skyler lately. Skyler realises that this element was missing from the voice when it spoke not a few minutes ago and he interrupts Shaneyah on the spot.
SS: Wait – you were one piece of the voice?
SP: Sorry?
Everything freezes and the two-toned voice speaks again.
??: She remembers nothing. I simply stole the elements of her voice and used them as one third of mine, although it is no longer necessary for reasons you will not understand. I will return.
Once again, everything unfreezes and Skyler shakes his head.
SS: Nothing. Listen, I know this may sound hasty, but I want to ask you something. One of the biggest Pay-Per-Views of the year in the WCF is going on this weekend, and I want you to come and w-
SP: You’re still wrestling, Skyler? I thought you’d given up on it?
SS: No… who told you that?
SP: I just presumed that after you followed your silly wrestling dream that you’d come back to the real world.
SS: This is the real world! I am the WCF Hardcore Champion, this is what I do for a living!
SP: But why? You’re slowly killing yourself! I watched a ‘hardcore’ match once, and all they did was hit each other with chairs and then bleed.
SS: Everyone’s got their own style. Hardcore is mine.
Shaneyah turns away from Skyler and to the balcony, where she stares out over the city.
SP: Skyler, if we want to get back together, and I presume you want us to, I want you to do one thing for me.
SS: You want me to give up wrestling.
A long pause follows, the wind rushing over the building and blowing Shaneyah’s long, untied hair so it partially covers her face. She sighs and still not facing Skyler, replies.
SP: Yes.
SS: You can’t be serious. I have worked every single day of every year since I left to learn wrestling in America and now you want me to throw it away? I won’t do it.
SP: Then this is going to end as abruptly as it started.
SS: Fine.
SP: Fine? You’ll give up wrestling?
SS: No. Fine – this will end. Your voice may be haunting me in my every waking moment, but my love for wrestling surpasses most anything else save Jade.
SP: Then Jade, would you please tell your father to listen to me and give up wrestling?
Jade looks conflicted, but slowly moves to stand beside her father. Her stance is defiant and her eyes are blazing, although we can see a tear coming from one.
JS: I- I won’t do it. This is his life to lead, not mine.
SS: I’m sorry, Shaneyah, but what did you expect me to say? I love you, but I can live without you. Wrestling, however, I cannot.
Shaneyah begins crying, and then weeping, and without another word, she flees from the scene and from Skyler's life forever, running back through the door and slamming it on her way out. As soon as the door shuts, Skyler also begins crying, and he holds Jade close to him. The two cry silently in the night as the wind blows around them and eventually, Skyler stands, leaning on the balcony.
SS: You’re doing this, aren’t you? Is this some kind of cruel joke? To give me back the one thing I love and then rip it away just as quick?
The scene freezes everything save Skyler and the voice replies to Skyler’s shout yet even though Shaneyah is gone, it does not regain her voice.
??: This is a lesson that you must learn, Skyler. You have discovered something important tonight – that you cannot live without wrestling.
SS: I knew that before! Why rip the one I love away to tell me something I already know?!
??: Would you have admitted it before, Skyler?
Skyler does not answer this, simply standing still, as he knows the answer in his heart.
??: Then you have learned the lesson, Skyler. You are but a few steps away from War – three days, in fact. There are only a few things left that I must teach you. But they will wait until later. You want to be alone now, so I shall leave you. I will return tomorrow with your next lesson.
Skyler erupts with anger and yells at the frozen sky.
SS: WHY? What lessons?! Come on, Teacher? Teach me now and leave me alone! I’m sick of you interrupting, interfering, and playing around with my life as though you’re God himself!
??: You will find out who I am in due time, Skyler.
The voice leaves the scene for good and Skyler drops his head, collapsing to the floor, and as the scene unfreezes, Skyler sobs like a little child as Jade rushes over to him to comfort him. She holds his hand and rubs his back as the scene comes to a close, Skyler still sobbing on the cold concrete floor.
“Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win."
-Sun Tzu
