Post by Coda on Jul 14, 2017 19:27:19 GMT -5
DATE: 07.13.17
CAMERA STATUS: ON
While you hovered the cursor over the latest thumbnail on your personalized YouTube homepage, all it showed was a closed blood red curtain drawn shut. The fabric looked like silk, smooth and easy on the eyes as it hid the content hidden beneath the surface. With a single left click, an advertisement began and once a button in the bottom right-hand corner allowed you to skip the ad completely, you swiftly pressed it in record time.
Once the video was done buffering, the familiar crimson curtain perched atop a wide open stage filled the monitor of the device of your choosing. The 1080p resolution made it almost possible to count the threads. Beautiful orchestral music softly hummed in the background, a classic piece of music you couldn't quite recognize since it wasn't your musical genre of choice. As an unseen rope was tugged down steadily, the curtains slowly began to open to reveal a somber Coda sitting Indian style at the center of the stage with her eyes shut. The contrast between the open curtain and the closed eyes of the woman at the forefront wasn't lost on you and as the curtain opened completely, the woman who will main event the next Sunday Night Glory began to speak.
"I would like to dispel this belief that I do not know what I am doing."
While her words were soft spoken and her features were delicate, Coda's head was coyly faced down and to the side. An emotionless look adorned her near flawless visage, it was a familiar sight for everyone who knew her. She looked almost innocent while she paused in her speech but once she continued, her eyes remained shut.
"It has become commonplace for people to see me as a lackey to Kayla and Matthew, yes? People believe I am a creature of habit who exists for nothing more than to seek the approval of the two people I have considered friends on the Redemption Wrestling roster. I do not know the difference between right and wrong, yes? This is how you all see me?"
The Korean-born destroyer shakes her head back and forth slowly, those eyes still shut.
"Why do you believe this? Do I give the impression I am a person blind of morality? Do I give the impression that because of the lack of social grace I possess, I am inherently a bumbling ball of destruction? Do you believe I simply exist to destroy on a whim? Do you think I am an allegory to Lennie from Of Mice & Men — a danger to myself and others as I mindlessly stumble forward adhering to these carnal urges until I end up inadvertently killing someone with visions where Matthew and Kayla and I can purchase our own farm?"
With a sigh, Coda thinks for a moment.
"Adrien Cochrane is right in some respects. I have free will. I am no monster. I have been saying this since the very beginning here in Redemption Wrestling — I have made this as clear as I possibly could. Why has it taken so long for someone to notice I have been telling the truth? Why did Adrien say this information like it was a major surprise I have not told countless times in these promotional videos before?"
Aiming her features towards the camera in front of her now and still sitting with her legs crossed underneath her, she kept the windows to her soul closed.
"Still... I respect Adrien for eventually noticing this. I respect him in his attempt to understand me as I have respected Honey for some time now as well for the same reason. He is a strong competitor and a worthy opponent. This is not a compliment I give lightly."
Her piercing dark eyes suddenly came into view as she glared in your direction with a subtle intensity you knew she was capable of achieving with little effort.
"I would like to make it abundantly clear I would not stand by the side of Kayla and Matthew in the first place if it had not benefitted me at all, however. This proclamation you have made was incorrect in this regard, Adrien."
With the slight tilt of the head, Coda emphasized the words she spoke in a way that looked like it wasn't intentional.
"While I appreciate the thought — I suppose I understand this impulsive need to stand up for me like I am an innocent flower in need of saving like I am absent-mindedly assisting the 'monarchy' without gaining anything in return — it is simply wrong."
Gripping her knees as she spoke, it was hard for her eyes to remain forward the whole time. Occasionally, attention would drift to the bright spotlights above or unseen sights of interest behind the camera itself. You couldn't spot what caught her attention but it wasn't too distracting.
"Shortly after coming to Redemption Wrestling, Matthew Shields witnessed the power I possessed and respected the wrestling abilities I demonstrated against opponents of varying skill levels. The current Redemption Wrestling Heavyweight Champion at the time approached me to be his 'knight' and instead of blindly accepting the role, I showed him honesty. I told him I did not see him as a king, however, I understood aligning by his side would benefit me tremendously. To my surprise, he appreciated this honesty."
With a small genuine smile which disappeared in an instant later, she continued.
"As a rookie in professional wrestling given the opportunity to stand side by side with a man who held the Heavyweight Champion for quite some time, a man who respected me and saw great potential in my future, it was an easy decision to make. It was a decision dictated by logic, not emotion. I would have floundered as yet another rookie without aligning myself with arguably the most talented person on the roster but accepting the offer gave me opportunities I would not have otherwise been able to achieve so early."
"Without complaining on social media and without approaching Devlin Scott himself like so many others on this roster have done to attain opportunities at championships, I have carved a swath through the federation and gained 3 opportunities to become a number one contender within approximately 6 months of wrestling on the professional circuit. I have earned entrance into a Young Lions battle royal with the winner becoming the number one contender shortly after aligning myself with Matthew — losing because two of my opponents saw the strength I possessed and had to join forces to throw me over the top rope. I have attained a match against Jeremy Starling for the Young Lions Championship recently because Caroline decided I was strong enough to defeat 'The Living Greatness' — and she was right. Even more pertinent... While aligning myself with Matthew Shields, I have aligned with Kayla Richards as well. This meant dominating in the tag team gauntlet until the end."
"Becoming Matthew Shields' knight sent me on the fast track in Redemption Wrestling and for this, I am thankful. It has given me the opportunity to befriend Kayla Richards — someone who has defended me like family on numerous occasions on social media or otherwise and this might be the biggest reward I have gained."
With another soft smile, Coda reached into her pocket and pulled out the fidget spinner Kayla had personally given her. With an extended arm, she showed it to the camera and pointed to the name Coda in gold letters against the black background. She was obviously proud of it. While her thumb and her middle finger held it firmly in the middle, she spun it quickly with her thumb in front of the camera before shoving it back into her pocket. Glancing to her side, she noticed the Young Lions Championship neatly folded beside her as well, the blinding bright spotlights lighting up the silver and blue faceplate in a marvelous display as well.
"So while Adrien and so many others see me as a stooge who must follow the same motivations as Matthew and Kayla every step of the way, I see something else..."
"This is not a monarchy. This is not a hierarchy. This is a family — a family of equals."
"Maybe Matthew Shields sees this differently but I am sure Kayla would agree. And much like a real family, we can have disagreements. We are allowed to see things differently. While Kayla might despise Honey and Adrien Cochrane with a passion, I see respected competition. While Kayla might see Adrien as a false king and Honey as an annoying blonde, I see Adrien as a successful multiple time world champion I can fight to become stronger whether I win or I lose and I see Honey as a woman with more potential than she will ever see within herself."
With honesty in her tone, she looks down towards her lap and shuts her eyes once again as she absorbs herself into the classical music in the background for a few short moments.
"So why did I attack Honey once the gauntlet was over? While I do not owe anyone an explanation, I pride myself on being honest..."
"It can be said that Kayla asked me to do this and so I accepted, however... This is not the complete answer."
After taking a deep breath, Coda's eyes open and she glares your way once again.
"Conflict leads to strength."
"Adrien Cochrane did not become a multiple-time champion by taking the easy path, I am sure. He had to fight hundreds of battles in the ring and surely thousands of battles in his personal life before he became who you see today in Redemption Wrestling. The numbers might be wrong but the point stands, however. His battles against LEGION as well as Gods & Monsters made him grow considerably, made him reach within himself to become a stronger version of himself in every description. Without fights such as these, without enemies who pushed him so far, could he ever live up to his massive potential? Would he train as hard without enemies such as these? Would Adrien have become complacent at the exact same skill level he possessed when he debuted in the professional wrestling circuit?"
"I do not know the answer to these questions. It is possible but I could be incorrect."
"When I look at Honey, I see a woman who does not stand up for herself. I see a woman too afraid to speak her mind, too nervous to take the next step forward in her career and I came to one conclusion: I would teach her. I would do everything in my power to be the conflict standing in her way in an attempt to make her stronger in the process since she has grown little since signing to Redemption Wrestling. She is satisfied with Alechs stepping in front of her and earning championship opportunities while she watches backstage. She has the potential to be even stronger than Trixie and Alechs combined, has the capabilities to become as successful as her current tag team partner Adrien Cochrane in the near future but because nobody has pushed her to become better... She is stagnant."
She gripped her Young Lions Championship and showed it to the camera.
"Do you believe I got this championship by stepping aside and letting other people fight my battles, Honey? Do you believe I am complacent with failure like you?"
She sat down the championship at her side, folding it gently.
"No. I have trained and I have done what I needed to do to succeed. I have fought strong competitors such as Mason Moore and Jeremy Starling and I have faced conflict head on. I have let every single match improve me on every level and I have watched you fail against Rebel Ink one time too many."
"Without my involvement, even with your new protector in Adrien Cochrane by your side... You will fail again."
Her voice was serious and stern as ever.
"So why did I attack you? I wanted to see you fight back. I wanted to see you stand up and grow stronger for it. I wanted to light the fire within you, however, Stacy decided to interfere in your growth."
Coda shook her head back and forth again.
"It is understood that Adrien and Honey needed help. There is nothing wrong with this, however... Honey now understands that when she is in trouble, she will always get help. Whether it be Alechs, Adrien or Stacy, Honey likely believes she does not need to grow stronger. Whenever she is in a pinch, she will be saved. These protectors will bring her backstage, ask her whether or not she is okay and give her a strawberry Kit-Kat for her troubles. She will not learn what she needs to do to beat Rebel Ink. She will not learn how to become a successful champion. She will be a harmless delicate flower who accomplishes nothing important until everyone stops letting her know she does not need to try."
"So please... No more interferences, Stacy. No more backup plans, Adrien. I hope you understand."
With a more light-hearted voice, Coda talks directly to the camera again.
"So good luck, Honey. I hope Adrien, Kayla and I can teach you something new."
With a small gentle wave, she smiles.
"Let us see what happens next, shall we?"
Once the Young Lions Champion was done speaking, the YouTube video came to an end as the classical music came to a close as well.
