Post by CJ Phoenix on Feb 20, 2022 8:14:42 GMT -5
2/17/22
4:16PM
Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort
Cherokee, North Carolina
Nothing like relaxing in a casino's hotel suite. The views, the amenities, the aesthetics, and the atmosphere are all relaxing......unless you're in a room with Nagito Komaeda. In that case, the air is poisoned with smugness. Such is the case as he leans on the wall near the bed that CJ Phoenix is sitting at the edge of. Meanwhile, the US Title comfortably rests atop a pillow.
Nagito: You're making quite a list of enemies, you know. Here you are teaming with tyrants against a quartet of egomaniacs bound for self-destruction. Not to mention the closest thing you have to an actual ally is Dionysus...and he's one of your opponents. Besides, we both know that both sides are an accidental collision away from an implosion.
Phoenix: That's to be expected.
Nagito: And you know this match is a trap, right?
Phoenix: Of course I do.
Nagito: I gotta say...I'm pretty jealous of you. You got the worst case scenario by a long shot. Everyone else in the match only has to deal with four opponents and dysfunction with their team while you have that, both refs, AND the enforcers against you. They could literally make it impossible for you to win by refusing to count any attempts that you or your teammates make at winning. Not to mention they could just have their "Enforcers" attack you while they turn a blind eye to it all. Such a hopeless situation is suited better for someone like me. An utter waste of space who doesn't deserve happiness.
Phoenix: You make a good point. Not about the last two sentences, but the ones before them. However, this match isn't about winning or losing. It's about seeing how long it takes before the bout devolves into madness.
Nagito raises a hand to his own chin.
Nagito: Hmmmm. I see. Considering the circumstances surrounding the match, if the match does have an ending, it'll come with an asterisk. Whoever loses can just blame the officiating and the outside interference while the victory for the winners would be hollow for the same reasons.
Phoenix: Right. The real victory would come from the opportunity hidden within the madness.
Nagito: Opportunity? Ohhhhhhh! That's right! You all have huge matches in the coming weeks, so this is the perfect opportunity for someone to injure someone else.
CJ nods in agreement, which causes a sinister smirk to grow on Nagito's face.
Nagito: Honestly, I believe that's what the 'referees' are counting on. It's likely only a matter of time before you face Angelo again. It'll probably be for that title of yours too. I'd keep my head on a swivel if I were you. Between him and his hired guns, they have an excuse to try and make sure that you're less than 100%. As for Dandy, I'm sure that he wouldn't mind any of you getting injured. His vendetta against you is still a weird one, but the other people have to brawl at the end of the month for a shot at the World Title. You see where I'm going with this?
Phoenix: I think so.
Nagito: Good. I'm gonna keep talking anyway. No matter what happens in this match. Remember that Dandy DiVito went after you first. Even with SEVEN other contenders gunning after the gold he holds while you're in an entirely different division with your own problems, he's still focused on you. He and his brother wanted you to stay out of their business, and yet here they are bringing you into it. Might as well kick the hornet's nest. Who knows. Between the mental training you've been doing, the way that you've been defending your title, and the fact that the deck is starting to stack higher against you, maybe this worst case scenario is exactly what you need.
Nagito looks over at the United States Title.
Nagito: If you're the US Champion, but the World Champion is trying to hunt you down like his own title's contenders are trying to hunt him down, it makes me think that you're already at the top of the mountain. Perhaps it's not you that wants the World Title, but rather the World Title wants you because of how your run with the US Title has been going. Just something to think about.
Nagito disappears and the scene ends as CJ looks at his title, thinking about what Nagito said. His objectives were clear. Get through this match and try to settle things with Dandy as fast as possible. With Grindhouse already a looming threat behind Gerard Angelo, the last thing he needs is a pair of DiVitos trying to ruin his title defenses.
4:16PM
Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort
Cherokee, North Carolina
Nothing like relaxing in a casino's hotel suite. The views, the amenities, the aesthetics, and the atmosphere are all relaxing......unless you're in a room with Nagito Komaeda. In that case, the air is poisoned with smugness. Such is the case as he leans on the wall near the bed that CJ Phoenix is sitting at the edge of. Meanwhile, the US Title comfortably rests atop a pillow.
Nagito: You're making quite a list of enemies, you know. Here you are teaming with tyrants against a quartet of egomaniacs bound for self-destruction. Not to mention the closest thing you have to an actual ally is Dionysus...and he's one of your opponents. Besides, we both know that both sides are an accidental collision away from an implosion.
Phoenix: That's to be expected.
Nagito: And you know this match is a trap, right?
Phoenix: Of course I do.
Nagito: I gotta say...I'm pretty jealous of you. You got the worst case scenario by a long shot. Everyone else in the match only has to deal with four opponents and dysfunction with their team while you have that, both refs, AND the enforcers against you. They could literally make it impossible for you to win by refusing to count any attempts that you or your teammates make at winning. Not to mention they could just have their "Enforcers" attack you while they turn a blind eye to it all. Such a hopeless situation is suited better for someone like me. An utter waste of space who doesn't deserve happiness.
Phoenix: You make a good point. Not about the last two sentences, but the ones before them. However, this match isn't about winning or losing. It's about seeing how long it takes before the bout devolves into madness.
Nagito raises a hand to his own chin.
Nagito: Hmmmm. I see. Considering the circumstances surrounding the match, if the match does have an ending, it'll come with an asterisk. Whoever loses can just blame the officiating and the outside interference while the victory for the winners would be hollow for the same reasons.
Phoenix: Right. The real victory would come from the opportunity hidden within the madness.
Nagito: Opportunity? Ohhhhhhh! That's right! You all have huge matches in the coming weeks, so this is the perfect opportunity for someone to injure someone else.
CJ nods in agreement, which causes a sinister smirk to grow on Nagito's face.
Nagito: Honestly, I believe that's what the 'referees' are counting on. It's likely only a matter of time before you face Angelo again. It'll probably be for that title of yours too. I'd keep my head on a swivel if I were you. Between him and his hired guns, they have an excuse to try and make sure that you're less than 100%. As for Dandy, I'm sure that he wouldn't mind any of you getting injured. His vendetta against you is still a weird one, but the other people have to brawl at the end of the month for a shot at the World Title. You see where I'm going with this?
Phoenix: I think so.
Nagito: Good. I'm gonna keep talking anyway. No matter what happens in this match. Remember that Dandy DiVito went after you first. Even with SEVEN other contenders gunning after the gold he holds while you're in an entirely different division with your own problems, he's still focused on you. He and his brother wanted you to stay out of their business, and yet here they are bringing you into it. Might as well kick the hornet's nest. Who knows. Between the mental training you've been doing, the way that you've been defending your title, and the fact that the deck is starting to stack higher against you, maybe this worst case scenario is exactly what you need.
Nagito looks over at the United States Title.
Nagito: If you're the US Champion, but the World Champion is trying to hunt you down like his own title's contenders are trying to hunt him down, it makes me think that you're already at the top of the mountain. Perhaps it's not you that wants the World Title, but rather the World Title wants you because of how your run with the US Title has been going. Just something to think about.
Nagito disappears and the scene ends as CJ looks at his title, thinking about what Nagito said. His objectives were clear. Get through this match and try to settle things with Dandy as fast as possible. With Grindhouse already a looming threat behind Gerard Angelo, the last thing he needs is a pair of DiVitos trying to ruin his title defenses.
