Post by Teo Blaze on Jan 3, 2021 20:43:25 GMT -5
As the scene fades into view, the formerly skybound Gents now find themselves on the sunny shores of an island in the Pacific. In the distance, Jenson is holding the Basketball of Tafiti over his head, shouting gibberish into the rainforest. Meanwhile, much closer to the shores, his partner lays on the white sands, the island sun reflecting off of his sunglasses.
“You know, there’s probably easier ways to get into the head space of Pineapple Promenade, man.”
Jenson’s voice echoes in the distance in reply.
“Like what, Teo?”
“If I suggest drinking paint, are you going to be able to interpret the sarcasm?”
“Hey, I understand sarcasm! Now where’s Maui, he’s supposed to show up at this part…”
Teo chuckles, watching his friend and rolling his eyes at the same time.
“Well, even though we are on a tropical paradise, this isn’t a vacation. Come here, cameraman.”
The screen shakes slightly, as the person Teo is addressing is used to standing silently during these things.
“Bring it in real close, see here?”
Teo holds up the camera to zoom in on his smile. All throughout his teeth are chips and cracks from repeated blows to the face.
“What about this?”
He pulls his hairline back slightly, revealing a long forgotten scar he accrued from a nasty chair shot.
“Battle scars. I’ve got a million of ‘em. Had to bring it in closeup just to give you an idea of how many times this hide has been tanned. And do you know why? Because this is an ugly business. And Pineapple Promenade? I’m sorry, but pretty people just have no place in an ugly business.
Oh don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying you won’t find the odd success here or there, steamrolling overmatched punching bags who are there to collect a paycheck before disappearing off the radar...and the Schorg bros, who are barely half a step better.
But sooner or later, this always turns ugly. You face that one badass who’s seen a million like you, and you learn what it means to be outmatched. And it makes you ugly.
Each scar, each wound, each black eye or chipped tooth is a lesson that you have to learn, a reminder of how far you have to go. You show me a world champion, and I’ll show you someone who has been broken more times than anyone can count. That’s just the way it is.
I admire your positivity, Pineprom, but I see it for what it is. Naivete. Right now you have a shot at the tag team champions, and you can’t possibly see it going wrong. Behind the good looks, the holiday motifs, behind it all! You know you can’t do this. You know that you’re not just up against the average tag team. You’re up against the Two Gents. We took the heavyweight tag champions to the limit! We took these belts from Red White and Bruised, considered by many to be the best tag team in the world today! And with every match we have, we just keep on piling up accolades.
You know what I want for these tag team titles? I want people to take them seriously again. I want them to see the talent, the fire that this roster has, that we showed at Cruiserhavoc. I want people to realize that these belts mean just as much as the Heavyweight Tag Team belts!
You want a cheap accolade. You want to be champions because it sounds fun.
So PP? This week I’m going to give you your first scar. With any luck it will just be mental. But you’re going to learn that you’re not good enough yet.
And maybe, just maybe, you’ll take that scar and you’ll actually realize what you need before you’re on the Gents’ level. And you’ll reach out and grab it.
But I wouldn’t count on it. After all- Pretty people have no place in an ugly business.”
With that, Teo pushes his glasses back up over his eyes, enjoying the warmth of the white sands once more. In the distance, Jenson is arguing with a very large, tattooed man... but that’s a story for another day.