(Jessica Nitoh) Nerd Paladin, Level Up! | File 002: Respect

A purple business dress, a black leather jacket, and a pair of black high heels.

It’s certainly out of her element, but Jessica is learning to adapt. She looks at herself in the mirror, her blonde hair styled and tied back into a nice long braid, and she sighs. She glances around the dresser and retrieves a Star Trek pin, carefully attaching it to her jacket so it’s visible. A tiny smile crosses her face as she turns around and approaches the seating area of the living room. She sits down on the loveseat, leans forward, and surveys the row of cards face down on the coffee table.

“I suppose… we’ll start right here.”

Reaching out, she takes the middle card and flips it over. It’s revealed to be her own NGW Trading Card, her ring name Jessica Nitoh present on the art. She can’t help but smile as she looks up and her eyes shimmer.

“Front and center, Victor?”

“Precisely.”

He offers her a genuine smile and folds his hands on his lap. She tilts her head and observes him. The white dress shirt, buttoned up with the collar folded evenly, the pair of black slacks, and the black dress shoes. What stands out is his dark brown hair, an unkempt contrast to his attire. Jessica extends her right hand and gently tucks a few strands behind Victor’s left ear. She smiles before she draws her hand back and she looks over her card.

“I always try to represent the mannerism of respect. But in all honesty, I’ve lost my way in the last…”

A pause, she glances over the calendar pinned to a wall and she blinks.

“...it’s almost been three months now. Time is flying by so fast, but I’m moving slowly, carefully, like the wrong move will shatter the ground beneath me.”

She shakes her head before she focuses back on the card.

“After the divorce, my heart fell apart. I was incomplete. I’m still trying to find all of the broken pieces, but it takes time... and time is not a luxury I have. On the last Dissension, my homecoming in NGW wasn’t what I wanted it to be. I was cheated out of a win that was clearly mine, but I can’t focus on the past. Besides, that’s what I have my chronic depression for.”

A soft chuckle escapes from her parted lips. It’s meant to be a joke, but it’s rather serious. She tries to concentrate, her eyes slightly narrowing as her hands reach out and flip the two cards beside hers. The Honey Smith and Ruby Lance cards are revealed on the field and a gentle smile crosses her face.

“Respect is a rare art form in this industry. It’s something to be cherished and never taken for granted. In the last three years of my professional wrestling career, the majority of my opponents have overlooked and underestimated me. Either they blatantly ignore me or they disrespect me. They make the same mistakes over and over again. This time, things are… different. It’s refreshing to face an opponent who respects me and takes me seriously. It’s even nicer when both of them regard me in such a manner. I hold Ruby and Honey in high regards to honor and respect. They’re both incredibly talented athletes and I’m thankful for the opportunity to face them in the ring this Sunday in Atlanta.”

Jessica looks up to Victor and folds her hands on her lap.

“Of course… a triple threat match needs a good strategy to overcome.”

Victor nods and clears his throat.

“The simplest explanations are usually the best. A triple threat match in its purist form is chaotic. You always need to be mindful of your surroundings at all times. One false move such as letting your guard down, forgetting your opponent is there, or not sufficiently removing the third member of the match from the equation long enough to gain the pinfall or submission? It will lead to defeat. Stating the obvious, I know. Even if I want to entertain in hyperbole, wouldn’t coloring up the conditions more than they are be a disservice to all three ladies involved? I don’t want to do that. Ruby and Honey have been respectful towards Jessica. I’ll return the same respect in kind.”

Reaching over to another side of the coffee table, he picks up a dictionary and opens to a page that's been bookmarked.

“Resurgence. A rising again into life, activity, or prominence. Synonyms include revival, renewal, regeneration, reawakening, and resurrection. Tell me, doesn't that resonate with you, Jessica?”

She contemplates the information he's shared with her and looks over the cards. Out of curiosity, she begins to flip the cards that were face down.

On the far left side of the coffee table is a promotional card of The Guardians: Adrien Cochrane, Jazmyn Rain, and Honey.

On the far right side is another promotional card of The Destroyers: Matthew Shields, Kayla Richards, Coda, and Jack Tillman.

She presses her lips together in a thin line and places her right hand on her own card. She picks it up from the table and looks closely at the artwork.

“Resurgence is my revival...”

Jessica shakes her head, rises up to her feet, and holds the card in her hand.

“No. Resurgence is our revival. We sent the world a message in New Orleans and our crusade continues in Atlanta. We will not be ignored. We will not be forgotten. We will not be stopped.”

Victor stands up and extends his left hand towards Jessica. In a fluid motion, he places his hand against hers and they hold the card between their hands.

“Let us begin.”

She looks at their hands for a brief moment before she stares into his eyes. His eyes meet hers in the gaze and time stands still for the both of them. Jessica takes a deep breath and Victor remembers they're recording. He pulls his hand away, but not before he takes the card and holds it between his fingers.

“Hm… shall we play a game? It has to be something neither of us have played before. Winner is treated to the dinner of their choice.”

Jessica is perplexed yet intrigued by the challenge. She's never one to back down from a challenge as a grin sprawls across her face.

“Game on.”