Post by Niobe Martin on Dec 4, 2022 14:48:41 GMT -5
Niobe turned her head and stared out the window of the flight she was on, watching the clouds float on by on this dark night. The seat next to her was thankfully empty, making getting in and out a simple ease instead of having to fight someone just to get by. She was on her way to South Dakota, for the upcoming Monday Night Clash event happening in Vermillion. She had taken a later flight out, because there was a moment where she had nearly forgotten her suitcase with all of her gear in it and had to run back to the hotel for it. That was just a sign that she was still scattered from the match that had happened.
It was still incredibly bizarre how things had eventually played out.
It still hurt because of the way things had ended.
The lo-fi music continued to waft into her ears, calming her otherwise frayed nerves as she continued to watch the sky. There were plenty of chances to have that shot at a title. This wouldn’t be the only one. As her old wrestling coach would say…
”If you fall down, get back up and keep steppin’.
Wise words indeed.
Niobe shut her eyes, and drifted into a dream…
There was a large building somewhere in Illinois, cars in the lot, and noise coming from inside if you listened closely. Quickly bobbing to the inside, you see tables set up down the entryway, with t-shirts and other merch from the indy wrestlers that were performing on that night. Volunteers were manning the tables while those that had already had their matches were standing and selling their wares to adoring fans who wanted to buy. Even further into the main part of the building, was the gathered crowd surrounding a ring set up in the middle, lights illuminating the ring. Two guys were having their match, much to the delight of the excited crowd who would boo or cheer depending on who was getting ahead. Peeking out of the slight crack in the curtains separating the main stage from the ‘back’ area was a fresh looking Niobe, dressed in her gear, waiting her turn to go out there.
She bit her lip slightly, watching the two go at it in the ring, swaying slightly back and forth on her feet. Her match was next, and the nerves were starting to kick in. They always did before events like these. Off somewhere in the distance, she could faintly hear her coach talking to someone, then a bark of laughter from that direction came about. That was not her concern, she was more interested in what was going on while making sure to remember the ‘spots’ that she had worked out with her opponent.
Cheers came from the crowd as the action continued.
”Excited about your match, Niobe?”
For a second, she didn’t respond, until her brain put two and two together and eventually got four, demanding that she give attention to the person trying to initiate conversation with her. Niobe’s head turned to see her coach standing there, grinning at her before turning to watch the action alongside of her, each of them enjoying the show that was being presented.
”Yea, I am I guess. Thought I would be in the middle of the card. Guess I was wrong. Haha.”
”Hey, doesn’t matter where you end up. As long as you make the journey there enjoyable. That’s all that matters.”
”Right. It’s a good turn out for the show tonight. With the weather being so chilly, I thought for sure it would keep people from coming out and enjoying the festivities. They’re probably all at the mall. Well the ones that aren’t here at the show.”
”People probably want a break from the holiday craziness. Come out and enjoy something good instead of wandering around a cramped mall dealing with bitchy people. I wonder how retail workers manage to not punch someone in the face because they threw a fit.”
Niobe laughed, clasping her hands behind her back as she considered those words. She had a couple of friends who worked in the retail business, and had been the willing sounding board for all of the shenanigans that happened during their shifts.
”You got everything worked out for your match with your opponent? I know I ask this of everyone, all the time but I’m only watching out for you kids while I have the opportunity to do so.”
”Yeah, yeah, totally ready. We got everything worked out, so it’s just a matter of waiting until this finishes.”
A warm hand rested on her shoulder, as the crowd erupted again in cheers, the ringside announcer proclaiming the winner of the bout as the other guy wobbled and slid out of the ring, holding his head. Both Niobe and her coach stepped out of the way as he came through, and the two men shared a few words before he turned to her, a lopsided grin on his face.
That was probably his way of saying ‘good luck, in too much pain to say it out loud’.
He walked away, as Niobe took her place in front of the curtain, bouncing on her heels again.
”Good luck out there, you’re gonna do great!”
Niobe smiled, nodding at him as the beginning sounds of her theme music poured out from the speakers. She faced the curtain and lowered her head, getting in the zone before bursting out of the curtains at the right moment in the song.
…that had been one of the last matches she had on the indys before being signed to her first major promotion…
memories…
Present day…
The scene opens up to a shot of Niobe in her dimly lit locker room, listening to that lo-fi music again as she carefully laced up her boots. Black boots with blue flames dancing up the sides, if you were wondering. Once those were properly laced, she let out a sigh, leaning her elbows on her thighs, resting her chin on her clasped hands. Here she was again, preparing for another fight, another match.
”It was fun going back on old memories during that flight. Had to pass the time somehow, so sleeping and thinking back on that was fun. Reminded me that I had to dust myself off and keep going. No matter what.
I was shocked to say the least after that match with Addy, when I finally came to my senses and realized that I had lost. I lost a match that I put everything into, and the fact that I didn’t walk out with a victory was painful. I remember the ref checking on me as I’m trying not to burst into tears.
‘You did good Niobe. Be careful getting out of the ring, and don’t let this get to you. There’s always other opportunities.’
That’s all I remember them saying as I slowly crawled out of the ring, hobbling to the back.”
She reached over to her duffel bag and pulled out a roll of black tape, beginning the process of taping her wrists.
”I’d like to think I gained a bit of Addy’s respect that night. I showed her that I was a legitimate threat to her reign as champion and that nothing really lasts forever. If it’s not me, then someone else will take that title. Happens all the time.
I’m gonna dust myself off and keep on moving. I’ve got another match, and I can’t let things like that down. Why would I? I need to visit pain and suffering on another soul this week and that unfortunate victim happens to be Rey Jaguar."
Niobe chuckled, finishing taping up her other wrist and tossed the tape roll into the bag.
"I feel like you are walking into another painful loss here. I thought that a man of your skill and ability would have faired better before me. I was sadly mistaken it seems. You lost your debut match, to Dionysus and not that slimeball Bruce. Then you have an opportunity to be a number one contender to Addys title and you fought but it ultimately ended in defeat to Bruce…again.
This is just sad. Now you have to face me and I'm telling you right now that I may be a hell of a lot smaller than you but the pain I end up inflicting upon you will be bigger than even you could imagine. Because that's just the way I am and that's how I gain my victories. Anyway I can.
I may have failed at stopping Addys title reign, but that's not gonna stop me from making another example out of you to show everyone out there that I am still a threat no matter what.
Accept this or don't, I don't care. You're just another body on the way to greatness.
Welcome to my nightmare Rey. Welcome to your end."
It was still incredibly bizarre how things had eventually played out.
It still hurt because of the way things had ended.
The lo-fi music continued to waft into her ears, calming her otherwise frayed nerves as she continued to watch the sky. There were plenty of chances to have that shot at a title. This wouldn’t be the only one. As her old wrestling coach would say…
”If you fall down, get back up and keep steppin’.
Wise words indeed.
Niobe shut her eyes, and drifted into a dream…
There was a large building somewhere in Illinois, cars in the lot, and noise coming from inside if you listened closely. Quickly bobbing to the inside, you see tables set up down the entryway, with t-shirts and other merch from the indy wrestlers that were performing on that night. Volunteers were manning the tables while those that had already had their matches were standing and selling their wares to adoring fans who wanted to buy. Even further into the main part of the building, was the gathered crowd surrounding a ring set up in the middle, lights illuminating the ring. Two guys were having their match, much to the delight of the excited crowd who would boo or cheer depending on who was getting ahead. Peeking out of the slight crack in the curtains separating the main stage from the ‘back’ area was a fresh looking Niobe, dressed in her gear, waiting her turn to go out there.
She bit her lip slightly, watching the two go at it in the ring, swaying slightly back and forth on her feet. Her match was next, and the nerves were starting to kick in. They always did before events like these. Off somewhere in the distance, she could faintly hear her coach talking to someone, then a bark of laughter from that direction came about. That was not her concern, she was more interested in what was going on while making sure to remember the ‘spots’ that she had worked out with her opponent.
Cheers came from the crowd as the action continued.
”Excited about your match, Niobe?”
For a second, she didn’t respond, until her brain put two and two together and eventually got four, demanding that she give attention to the person trying to initiate conversation with her. Niobe’s head turned to see her coach standing there, grinning at her before turning to watch the action alongside of her, each of them enjoying the show that was being presented.
”Yea, I am I guess. Thought I would be in the middle of the card. Guess I was wrong. Haha.”
”Hey, doesn’t matter where you end up. As long as you make the journey there enjoyable. That’s all that matters.”
”Right. It’s a good turn out for the show tonight. With the weather being so chilly, I thought for sure it would keep people from coming out and enjoying the festivities. They’re probably all at the mall. Well the ones that aren’t here at the show.”
”People probably want a break from the holiday craziness. Come out and enjoy something good instead of wandering around a cramped mall dealing with bitchy people. I wonder how retail workers manage to not punch someone in the face because they threw a fit.”
Niobe laughed, clasping her hands behind her back as she considered those words. She had a couple of friends who worked in the retail business, and had been the willing sounding board for all of the shenanigans that happened during their shifts.
”You got everything worked out for your match with your opponent? I know I ask this of everyone, all the time but I’m only watching out for you kids while I have the opportunity to do so.”
”Yeah, yeah, totally ready. We got everything worked out, so it’s just a matter of waiting until this finishes.”
A warm hand rested on her shoulder, as the crowd erupted again in cheers, the ringside announcer proclaiming the winner of the bout as the other guy wobbled and slid out of the ring, holding his head. Both Niobe and her coach stepped out of the way as he came through, and the two men shared a few words before he turned to her, a lopsided grin on his face.
That was probably his way of saying ‘good luck, in too much pain to say it out loud’.
He walked away, as Niobe took her place in front of the curtain, bouncing on her heels again.
”Good luck out there, you’re gonna do great!”
Niobe smiled, nodding at him as the beginning sounds of her theme music poured out from the speakers. She faced the curtain and lowered her head, getting in the zone before bursting out of the curtains at the right moment in the song.
…that had been one of the last matches she had on the indys before being signed to her first major promotion…
memories…
Present day…
The scene opens up to a shot of Niobe in her dimly lit locker room, listening to that lo-fi music again as she carefully laced up her boots. Black boots with blue flames dancing up the sides, if you were wondering. Once those were properly laced, she let out a sigh, leaning her elbows on her thighs, resting her chin on her clasped hands. Here she was again, preparing for another fight, another match.
”It was fun going back on old memories during that flight. Had to pass the time somehow, so sleeping and thinking back on that was fun. Reminded me that I had to dust myself off and keep going. No matter what.
I was shocked to say the least after that match with Addy, when I finally came to my senses and realized that I had lost. I lost a match that I put everything into, and the fact that I didn’t walk out with a victory was painful. I remember the ref checking on me as I’m trying not to burst into tears.
‘You did good Niobe. Be careful getting out of the ring, and don’t let this get to you. There’s always other opportunities.’
That’s all I remember them saying as I slowly crawled out of the ring, hobbling to the back.”
She reached over to her duffel bag and pulled out a roll of black tape, beginning the process of taping her wrists.
”I’d like to think I gained a bit of Addy’s respect that night. I showed her that I was a legitimate threat to her reign as champion and that nothing really lasts forever. If it’s not me, then someone else will take that title. Happens all the time.
I’m gonna dust myself off and keep on moving. I’ve got another match, and I can’t let things like that down. Why would I? I need to visit pain and suffering on another soul this week and that unfortunate victim happens to be Rey Jaguar."
Niobe chuckled, finishing taping up her other wrist and tossed the tape roll into the bag.
"I feel like you are walking into another painful loss here. I thought that a man of your skill and ability would have faired better before me. I was sadly mistaken it seems. You lost your debut match, to Dionysus and not that slimeball Bruce. Then you have an opportunity to be a number one contender to Addys title and you fought but it ultimately ended in defeat to Bruce…again.
This is just sad. Now you have to face me and I'm telling you right now that I may be a hell of a lot smaller than you but the pain I end up inflicting upon you will be bigger than even you could imagine. Because that's just the way I am and that's how I gain my victories. Anyway I can.
I may have failed at stopping Addys title reign, but that's not gonna stop me from making another example out of you to show everyone out there that I am still a threat no matter what.
Accept this or don't, I don't care. You're just another body on the way to greatness.
Welcome to my nightmare Rey. Welcome to your end."
