Post by Jeremy Starling on Dec 31, 2016 0:03:56 GMT -5
The scene comes up in a public park in Tokyo. Jeremy walks with two other men. One translates for the others.
”Mister Takashi is very intrigued by your offer Mister Starling, but he would like some assurances.”
”Such as?”
”He has some concerns that you have lost some of your guile.”
”Oh?”
”It seems that some of your recent ventures have been less than successful.”
Jeremy narrows his eyes at both men. ”At any given time, I have multiple ventures happening. If you’re referring to my hobby, my business savvy nor the goals of my company are not affected by it. And if that honestly will keep us from reaching an accord, there is very little that can be achieved by continuing this.”
The man speaking Japanese holds out his hand. ”Mister Takashi agrees to your terms, but if Starling Associated wants Mister Takashi’s shares, your company will need to show at least a 10 percent average increase in personal revenue.”
”As I’m sure Takashi-san is well aware, Starling Associated has shown a 12% increase average since it’s founding 25 years ago. I do not intend to disrespect my ancestors’ legacy by not increasing that average in my lifetime.”
”We will have the forms sent to your accounting before the year is out. Have a fine night this weekend.”
All three men bow respectfully to each other. Jeremy walks to another location where Cadence is sitting among sakura leaves still falling. Jeremy walks up behind her and wraps his arms around her and she grips his arms.
”Did it go well?”
”You have to know how to speak to your audience.”
”Right words, right time.”
”And right tone. It conveys more than words can.”
”I know. Words carry power with them.”
”And your words lead me to the best place I could ever be.”
She leans back and they kiss.
------------------------------------------
”At this point in my very young wrestling career, even I can tell that I have made some powerful enemies from being born better than everyone. There’s no other explanation as to why I keep coming within a second of victory on to have it snatched from me by biased officiating and practically criminal neglect of Redemption’s biggest star. I therefore issue this warning to everyone on the roster of Redemption: there is no one person on this roster who is greater than me and if you participate in any way in the continued partisan treatment of me, you will live to wish you weren’t able to regret it.
“Unfortunately, my personal vendettas must be put on hold, but fate yields yet the promise of another reward, one that could carry an accolade greater than any championship belt. The Global Cup, where competitors fight for the pride of their country of ancestry. I’m sure many of you know my father’s history because of my profligate of a half-sister, but on my mother’s side, the Starlings have been proud Americans since the Mayflower first arrived. Yes, my ancestors came over as one of the poor wretches fleeing the tyranny of persecution, I will tell you all more of that later, if I deem you worthy of knowing my story, and now I too am being persecuted by a man who would be king.
And to make matters more insulting, my first round match in this Global Cup tournament is one half of our brand new tag team champions. Does anyone else have the strangest sense of Deja vu? I’ve already beaten one half of the tag team champs. I pinned one half of the tag team champs! I did that! And Aurora Graves had the hardest time with handling the previous champs who I have defeated with practically no effort. Aurora, let me make this plain for you: you are outclassed in every possible respect. You have been pitted against the same opponents, become used to facing the same people whereas I have built a repertoire for defeating my opponents, note the plural use of the word opponent there, when I am not being discriminated against for being Living Greatness.
I said earlier there is no one person better than myself in Redemption and Aurora that belt you have only proves you need someone with you to win. You will be leaving this tournament in round one before you even get a chance to wonder how your countrymen will greet you after your now non-existent victory. Enjoy the fleeting time though in this tournament. It is the only solace you will receive.”
”Mister Takashi is very intrigued by your offer Mister Starling, but he would like some assurances.”
”Such as?”
”He has some concerns that you have lost some of your guile.”
”Oh?”
”It seems that some of your recent ventures have been less than successful.”
Jeremy narrows his eyes at both men. ”At any given time, I have multiple ventures happening. If you’re referring to my hobby, my business savvy nor the goals of my company are not affected by it. And if that honestly will keep us from reaching an accord, there is very little that can be achieved by continuing this.”
The man speaking Japanese holds out his hand. ”Mister Takashi agrees to your terms, but if Starling Associated wants Mister Takashi’s shares, your company will need to show at least a 10 percent average increase in personal revenue.”
”As I’m sure Takashi-san is well aware, Starling Associated has shown a 12% increase average since it’s founding 25 years ago. I do not intend to disrespect my ancestors’ legacy by not increasing that average in my lifetime.”
”We will have the forms sent to your accounting before the year is out. Have a fine night this weekend.”
All three men bow respectfully to each other. Jeremy walks to another location where Cadence is sitting among sakura leaves still falling. Jeremy walks up behind her and wraps his arms around her and she grips his arms.
”Did it go well?”
”You have to know how to speak to your audience.”
”Right words, right time.”
”And right tone. It conveys more than words can.”
”I know. Words carry power with them.”
”And your words lead me to the best place I could ever be.”
She leans back and they kiss.
------------------------------------------
”At this point in my very young wrestling career, even I can tell that I have made some powerful enemies from being born better than everyone. There’s no other explanation as to why I keep coming within a second of victory on to have it snatched from me by biased officiating and practically criminal neglect of Redemption’s biggest star. I therefore issue this warning to everyone on the roster of Redemption: there is no one person on this roster who is greater than me and if you participate in any way in the continued partisan treatment of me, you will live to wish you weren’t able to regret it.
“Unfortunately, my personal vendettas must be put on hold, but fate yields yet the promise of another reward, one that could carry an accolade greater than any championship belt. The Global Cup, where competitors fight for the pride of their country of ancestry. I’m sure many of you know my father’s history because of my profligate of a half-sister, but on my mother’s side, the Starlings have been proud Americans since the Mayflower first arrived. Yes, my ancestors came over as one of the poor wretches fleeing the tyranny of persecution, I will tell you all more of that later, if I deem you worthy of knowing my story, and now I too am being persecuted by a man who would be king.
And to make matters more insulting, my first round match in this Global Cup tournament is one half of our brand new tag team champions. Does anyone else have the strangest sense of Deja vu? I’ve already beaten one half of the tag team champs. I pinned one half of the tag team champs! I did that! And Aurora Graves had the hardest time with handling the previous champs who I have defeated with practically no effort. Aurora, let me make this plain for you: you are outclassed in every possible respect. You have been pitted against the same opponents, become used to facing the same people whereas I have built a repertoire for defeating my opponents, note the plural use of the word opponent there, when I am not being discriminated against for being Living Greatness.
I said earlier there is no one person better than myself in Redemption and Aurora that belt you have only proves you need someone with you to win. You will be leaving this tournament in round one before you even get a chance to wonder how your countrymen will greet you after your now non-existent victory. Enjoy the fleeting time though in this tournament. It is the only solace you will receive.”
