Post by Ruby Lance on Nov 4, 2017 1:24:27 GMT -5
In contrast to how we usually see Ruby Lance preparing for her matches, this time we join her on a beautiful and secluded beach. There is a steady breeze evident by her hair blowing as she sits quietly watching the tide come in and be swept back out. Houses can be seen in the distance behind her, making it pretty obvious this a private beach for those owning property here. I guess that would mean one of those houses belongs to the South Bay Champion and her boyfriend Scotty Latimer. Ruby takes a deep breath and pushes her hair out of her face, folding it back in a ponytail with one hand.
"I know this isn't very typical of me before a match. Especially one as big as what is coming up for me."
She nods to herself and never once glances over at the camera that is spying on her. I mean, the beach is empty so I doubt the camera pointed at her has escaped her attention. She's well aware that it's there. This is an On-Camera, after all!
"Usually I'm in the gym really giving it my all. Don't worry, that's coming."
Now she acknowledges the camera. It's a momentary glance with the slightest hint of a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. The smile is also momentary.
"There's just a lot on my mind about this match. A triple threat for my South Bay Championship. It's my first time defending the title against more than one person. It's not quite as chaotic to think about as the match I won the title in, but it's pretty scary to stare down the face of."
She takes a deep breath and really focuses on the ocean that rushes towards her only to be dragged back out to sea before it ever reaches her.
"I don't know what else there is for me to say about this situation. I can tell that it frustrates Austen when I talk about how difficult it is for me to face my friends. I see it on his face and I hear it in his voice. I can't tell if it's because he thinks he hasn't done enough to make me understand that he's my friends."
Ruby turns a little to face the camera.
"You have, Austen. No one has done more to show me that than you have. Ever since I came to West Coast Genesis… I've had friends. You're the friend, though. You're probably my best friend in West Coast Genesis. Ryan and I have been friends since the beginning and we'll always be friends. I adore Danni and Donovan and Mercedes so much. I've become really close to Jack recently. Adam is a sweetheart and I hope to keep him in my life. But you, Austen…"
She takes a deep breath and looks back out at the ocean for a moment. It's almost as if she needs to serene nature of the ocean to help her sort through the thoughts that have started rushing through her brain. After taking a moment, she turns back to look into the camera and talk directly to Austen.
"You always go out of your way to check on me. You always worry about me. You always want to see me succeed. I mean, I'm not trying to say any of my other friends aren't happy to see me succeed. But you make it point to let me know. You wear everything right on your sleeve and even if you didn't do that, you'd still announce it to the world. I know I haven't been the greatest friend to you. I know that you have a lot going on in your life. I'm so glad a lot of it is good stuff now. I just don't know how to help you with the stuff that isn't good. I wish I did, but I don't."
She swallows hard and takes a deep breath, in desperate need of the ocean's calming ways right now.
"You've been doing this longer than me. Just about everyone has. I don't have advice for you. I'm not the kind of girl who thinks that just because she has a title that she's somehow better than those who have been doing this longer. You know me."
Glancing back towards the camera, she has a soft smile on her face as she references something Austen said earlier about knowing that she's not arrogant. That's continuity!
"I appreciate all of your advice. I appreciate your efforts to help me get better in the ring. I appreciate your support and your genuine happiness for what I've accomplished so far. Mostly, I appreciate you, Austen. I should have said it earlier. I should have made it known earlier somehow. I hope it's not too late."
She sighs and closes her eyes as her head lowers. She exists within herself for a moment, perhaps a moment longer than should be taking place on camera. Eventually, she looks back up but it's once again out at the ocean.
"At the same time. I fear that the reason Austen gets frustrated is that maybe he takes it that I don't respect him enough to see past our friendship. That rather than see him as a competitor with the abilities to take my title, I just see him as a friend that is trying to take what's mine. And that's not it at all. Austen and Danni are both two incredible people that I look up to not just in this business as competitors, but as people in life that I want to be like. At the same time, you're incredible wrestlers. You two are the biggest threats I've ever had for my South Bay Championship. To have you both coming for it at the same time is… it's terrifying."
Ruby takes another deep breath and looks over at the camera. She tries her best to muster up a smile, but it's just not quite looking like one.
"Not only is my title in the biggest jeopardy since I've won it, but my existence in West Coast Genesis is in jeopardy. And all of it is against the two people that I feel closest to here. Against the two people I'm going to miss the most if this is the end for me."
That failed effort at the smile becomes an epic fail when she actually frowns now.
"In this match, I lose my title and I lose West Coast Genesis."
She falls silent at the very plain fact of what is on the line against her two best friends and who she considers the two very best in West Coast Genesis. She remains silent and unmoving for a long moment, her eyes trained on the sand rather than the calming chaos of the ocean.
"But I know I'm not really losing West Coast Genesis. If I'm not the South Bay Champion, if I'm no longer a part of the West Coast Genesis roster… I won't be there anymore. But you'll both be there. There and here."
Her eyes raise up to look into the camera and she manages a smile that looks confident and relaxed. She places a hand over her heart when she says "here".
"I know I'll still have you two. And Donovan, Mercedes, Jack, Adam, Ryan… everyone who is West Coast Genesis. And I'm West Coast Genesis. Whether I'm there or a part of the New Generation Wrestling roster that I am so proud to have the honor of saying I'm a part of. No matter what, I'll always be West Coast Genesis."
With a renewed expression of happiness and relief on her face, Ruby stands up. She lets her hair get swept up in the breeze and she faces the camera.
"Whether it's me continuing on as the South Bay Champion, or whether either of the two very best that the company has to offer. My two favorite West Coast Genesis competitors and I say that with all due respect to every single competitor in West Coast Genesis. Yes! Even respect for you, Julianna."
Ruby can't help but laugh as she brings up having respect for the most hated woman in all of West Coast Genesis.
"Either way, I will always be a West Coast girl and I know that if Austen or Danni that my legacy as that South Bay Champion - as the first-ever South Bay Champion - won't be buried. It won't be forgotten. More importantly, that title will continue on in good hands. Each of us has a 33.3% chance of leaving as South Bay Champion. But my South Bay Championship that I am so proud of? It has 100% chance of being held by an incredible competitor that has respect not just for it, but for the entire division, and West Coast Genesis as a whole. And I think that's pretty darn awesome."
She smiles proudly at the camera and nods her head before turning to wander back up towards the house as we fade out.